This is the video that was played at nephew Ben McNeal's Celebration Service, 2 pm Tuesday, December 15th. That would have been his 22nd birthday, and he wanted a PARTY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otSkYHMSbrE
Friday, December 25, 2009
Ben McNeal Day
A wealthy fellow in NC heard of Ben's illness a few months ago at a prayer meeting, and had this video made about my wife Lisa's nephew in Wake Forest, NC, Ben McNeal. After his mom died of ALS in 1990, his dad Don married my wife's sister Paula. They moved to Wake Forest with oldest son Daniel so that dad Don could work on a degree at Southeastern Seminary.
In 2008, Ben's older Marine brother Daniel was sent home from his 2nd tour in Iraq, having developed the disease. Daniel died in June of 2008, leaving behind a wife and stepson. His decline followed the 6th month pattern of his mom's.
In the summer of 2009, Ben was diagnosed with ALS after beginning to lose muscle control in his left arm... in November he had no function in his left arm or hand, and had lost movement in his right hand. Ben would have been 22 on his birthday December 15th. There was very little that he could do for himself, physically.... BUT: He did become a source of encouragement to those around him!!
Several church and community friends rallied around him, befriended him, and did special events for him. A special "Ben McNeal Day" was held November 5th in Wake Forest, with police escort, a luncheon, high school band, red carpet, and Chic-fil-A for all! That night, Ben and 20 friends were taken by limo to a "Casting Crowns" concert in Raleigh, all with backstage passes to meet the band, and 6 with front row seats...
This is a video that the sponsor of the "Ben McNeal Day" made to be played at the special luncheon. Dad Don speaks first about the effects of ALS, and death of his first wife, and oldest son; then Ben shares.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szgy--GMuF4
In 2008, Ben's older Marine brother Daniel was sent home from his 2nd tour in Iraq, having developed the disease. Daniel died in June of 2008, leaving behind a wife and stepson. His decline followed the 6th month pattern of his mom's.
In the summer of 2009, Ben was diagnosed with ALS after beginning to lose muscle control in his left arm... in November he had no function in his left arm or hand, and had lost movement in his right hand. Ben would have been 22 on his birthday December 15th. There was very little that he could do for himself, physically.... BUT: He did become a source of encouragement to those around him!!
Several church and community friends rallied around him, befriended him, and did special events for him. A special "Ben McNeal Day" was held November 5th in Wake Forest, with police escort, a luncheon, high school band, red carpet, and Chic-fil-A for all! That night, Ben and 20 friends were taken by limo to a "Casting Crowns" concert in Raleigh, all with backstage passes to meet the band, and 6 with front row seats...
This is a video that the sponsor of the "Ben McNeal Day" made to be played at the special luncheon. Dad Don speaks first about the effects of ALS, and death of his first wife, and oldest son; then Ben shares.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szgy--GMuF4
Monday, October 12, 2009
Chasing Daylight - McManus
Just had a chance to read a very challenging book by the Pastor of Mosiac Church in Los Angeles. Erwin McManus is known for several of his writings, but this is an especially motivating work. The entire study is from I Samuel 14, and focuses on Jonathan, son of Saul.
The Israelite army is pinned down by their adversaries, the Philistines. (Seems like the Hebrew people are historically in someone's crosshairs.) King Saul was not taking action against the enemy, and his son Jonathan had a moment of inspiration, which he shared with his armor-bearer: "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. None can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many, or by few." His armor-bearer replied,"Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul".
McManus points out the Choices available to Jonathan, the Initiative God's work requires, and the Uncertainty involved in adventuring with the Lord. Jonathan's life had an Influence on his companion, which helped both of them take a Risk for God.... something that is always present, if we are going to Advance the kingdom. When we make an Impact for the Lord's work, often a Movement occurs that can lead to the Awakening of God's people. (Okay, I gave you the chapter headings, capitalized!)
Again and again, the author points out the importance of responding in the moment of invitation to be partners with the Lord. One of my favorite quotes in the book reveals the impact we should be having on others: "What you may never see is the number of people who are pulled into God's purpose for their lives through the wind shear of your obedience". Simply, when we follow the Lord, others are challenged and emboldened to answer their individual call, as well.
Currently in our young singles/college group, there are at least 4 young ladies, and 8 young men who are either in studies, training, or have already answered God's call to full-time service. It wasn't necessarily one "going to the altar" and others following.... it was more like what Eugene Petersen refers to as a "long obedience in the same direction" for each of them. They each kept going forward, stepping into ministry opportunities, that led them to their present moving status.
Back to Jonathan, it's possible to read but not see the Risk and Uncertainty evident in these few verses: "Come, let's go.... perhaps the Lord will act..." How's that for an action plan for a church or ministry committee? I want to start trying more often to see opportunities where the Lord may just be waiting for someone to step up, and step into a greater part of His work!
The Israelite army is pinned down by their adversaries, the Philistines. (Seems like the Hebrew people are historically in someone's crosshairs.) King Saul was not taking action against the enemy, and his son Jonathan had a moment of inspiration, which he shared with his armor-bearer: "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. None can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many, or by few." His armor-bearer replied,"Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul".
McManus points out the Choices available to Jonathan, the Initiative God's work requires, and the Uncertainty involved in adventuring with the Lord. Jonathan's life had an Influence on his companion, which helped both of them take a Risk for God.... something that is always present, if we are going to Advance the kingdom. When we make an Impact for the Lord's work, often a Movement occurs that can lead to the Awakening of God's people. (Okay, I gave you the chapter headings, capitalized!)
Again and again, the author points out the importance of responding in the moment of invitation to be partners with the Lord. One of my favorite quotes in the book reveals the impact we should be having on others: "What you may never see is the number of people who are pulled into God's purpose for their lives through the wind shear of your obedience". Simply, when we follow the Lord, others are challenged and emboldened to answer their individual call, as well.
Currently in our young singles/college group, there are at least 4 young ladies, and 8 young men who are either in studies, training, or have already answered God's call to full-time service. It wasn't necessarily one "going to the altar" and others following.... it was more like what Eugene Petersen refers to as a "long obedience in the same direction" for each of them. They each kept going forward, stepping into ministry opportunities, that led them to their present moving status.
Back to Jonathan, it's possible to read but not see the Risk and Uncertainty evident in these few verses: "Come, let's go.... perhaps the Lord will act..." How's that for an action plan for a church or ministry committee? I want to start trying more often to see opportunities where the Lord may just be waiting for someone to step up, and step into a greater part of His work!
Monday, September 21, 2009
God's Power Flowing
While reading Psalm 29 in The Message version, I saw some very interesting concepts and promises in this praise Psalm. (I was reading this during one of the downpours of rain that had put over 3 inches of water in our rain gauge!) Toward the end, the psalmist speaks of God's throne being above the floodwaters...above and beyond the problems and difficulties of this world.
But what was stunning to me was how it continued: "Above the floodwaters is God's throne from which His power flows..." His power is FLOWING from his throne, it is not static. Now WHERE would His power be GOING, in it's FLOWING? It surely is going in every direction, and it's on the move!
The next phrase refers again to His throne "from which He rules the world". Then is the answer to my question: " God makes His people strong, God gives His people peace". We are the recipients of the flow... not just from the one-time event of the Cross, but from God's throne itself!
Think of the solar winds from our sun, and the different types of rays it gives off. Our sun is so amazingly powerful, that it operates the nature system on the entire planet. And like when God told Moses in Exodus, "You can't see my face and live", we cannot physically tolerate, in these bodies, everything our sun gives off. It is just too powerful, too potent. That's why we have sunscreen! And our atmosphere is always under discussion by environmentalists, lest we destroy it's protective nature. God lets the good stuff through from the sun, and protects us from that which is too powerful for us, in this life.
BUT, one day, we will get to bask in the fullness of the power generating and emanating from the SON!!! Until then, I'm going to be believing that the power from God's throne is on it's way to those of us who believe. It has no other purpose, or destination!!! It is powerful, and it is fine-tuned for just what we need for every moment!!
But what was stunning to me was how it continued: "Above the floodwaters is God's throne from which His power flows..." His power is FLOWING from his throne, it is not static. Now WHERE would His power be GOING, in it's FLOWING? It surely is going in every direction, and it's on the move!
The next phrase refers again to His throne "from which He rules the world". Then is the answer to my question: " God makes His people strong, God gives His people peace". We are the recipients of the flow... not just from the one-time event of the Cross, but from God's throne itself!
Think of the solar winds from our sun, and the different types of rays it gives off. Our sun is so amazingly powerful, that it operates the nature system on the entire planet. And like when God told Moses in Exodus, "You can't see my face and live", we cannot physically tolerate, in these bodies, everything our sun gives off. It is just too powerful, too potent. That's why we have sunscreen! And our atmosphere is always under discussion by environmentalists, lest we destroy it's protective nature. God lets the good stuff through from the sun, and protects us from that which is too powerful for us, in this life.
BUT, one day, we will get to bask in the fullness of the power generating and emanating from the SON!!! Until then, I'm going to be believing that the power from God's throne is on it's way to those of us who believe. It has no other purpose, or destination!!! It is powerful, and it is fine-tuned for just what we need for every moment!!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Walking Through Hard Times
Recently I wrote a note to a friend whose family was going through a difficult time, and looking for some answers.... I found them hard to come by, and here's my reply:
I am so sorry about the trouble for all of you with these difficulties. I have nothing close to an answer. Some words from Job help me: "When He has tried me, I will come forth as gold". But a lot of folks talk about the end chapter, about how God doubled everything and blessed Job greatly. More donkeys, sheep, more stuff. Twice as much. Yes, I agree, I see that.
And I want to Scream: "Yes! But he buried seven!! Somewhere back in the back, there are seven tombstones!!" All I know is what I learned with the difficult decline of my mother-in-law. Somehow, because of all I'd been through, I realized I'd kind of attached to her, and it was as if I had a "real mom" again. And then she slowly faded... ( I just freaked out several times - really freaked - really wierd emotional freaky, that I didn't understand). Now I know it's called secondary trauma.
Anyway, what I learned, I share again and again with folks supporting loved ones: "You feel like every part of you is being crushed, slowly, and that you are being stuffed through an old timey key hole, and there is so little you can do....but there will be graces along the way."
I tell even my college - & young singles guys, so they'll know: "there are some things in life that will never be fixed, except by a good cry". I can't imagine the amount of eyeliner you must have ruined.....
But I do like to listen to this song, it helps me a lot, sometimes. You may prefer to just minimize the video about Columbine and listen to the song, that's what I do. We will continue to pray.
Love,
Tom B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uQCLzebZwo&feature=PlayList&p=C396BD50C182BEF6&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=33
I am so sorry about the trouble for all of you with these difficulties. I have nothing close to an answer. Some words from Job help me: "When He has tried me, I will come forth as gold". But a lot of folks talk about the end chapter, about how God doubled everything and blessed Job greatly. More donkeys, sheep, more stuff. Twice as much. Yes, I agree, I see that.
And I want to Scream: "Yes! But he buried seven!! Somewhere back in the back, there are seven tombstones!!" All I know is what I learned with the difficult decline of my mother-in-law. Somehow, because of all I'd been through, I realized I'd kind of attached to her, and it was as if I had a "real mom" again. And then she slowly faded... ( I just freaked out several times - really freaked - really wierd emotional freaky, that I didn't understand). Now I know it's called secondary trauma.
Anyway, what I learned, I share again and again with folks supporting loved ones: "You feel like every part of you is being crushed, slowly, and that you are being stuffed through an old timey key hole, and there is so little you can do....but there will be graces along the way."
I tell even my college - & young singles guys, so they'll know: "there are some things in life that will never be fixed, except by a good cry". I can't imagine the amount of eyeliner you must have ruined.....
But I do like to listen to this song, it helps me a lot, sometimes. You may prefer to just minimize the video about Columbine and listen to the song, that's what I do. We will continue to pray.
Love,
Tom B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uQCLzebZwo&feature=PlayList&p=C396BD50C182BEF6&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=33
Friday, July 3, 2009
Our Freedom
As you and I celebrate the 4th of July, and freedom of worship, I thought of an email I received from Voice of the Martyrs. (www.persecution.com) Voice of the Martyrs (from our friends dcTalk) monitors world wide assaults on Christians. You need to know how badly some of our brothers and sisters have daily life in other countries.
At the website, you can subscribe to email newsletters, and follow them on twitter. Through twitter on my cell phone, I get several prayer requests per day from them, based on events around the world.
If you ever plan to work for the Lord, this is a great time to do it! Read what Paul said to Timothy in I Timothy 4...."This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women...Get the word out." (MSG - emphasis mine)
At the website, you can subscribe to email newsletters, and follow them on twitter. Through twitter on my cell phone, I get several prayer requests per day from them, based on events around the world.
If you ever plan to work for the Lord, this is a great time to do it! Read what Paul said to Timothy in I Timothy 4...."This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women...Get the word out." (MSG - emphasis mine)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
NewlyWed Husband to Nearly Wed Couple
Okay! Here is the Yearly Wed Guy to the Nearly Wed Guy version! (As written by the wife for him). This is the real thing!:
When I read Hubby the stuff I sent you, he thought it was hilarious. I asked him if he had anything to add, and so he gave me his Top Ten. I didn't make these up--these are all Hubby:
"Have patience, because you are not used to her emotional side, but you are used to walking it off or putting dirt on it."
"Never go to bed angry. Don't let it go just to quit an argument. Work through it together"."
"Everybody will say she's always right, but that's wrong, and nobody is perfect."
"When in competition with your wife, it is best to use what I learned while riding my motorcycle--the SEE method of Search-Evaluate-Execute. Search for the problem. Evaluate the problem, seeing what you can and can't do to make it better, and Execute that solution."
"Expect her to do everything. Just kidding... expect each team member to do his or her own part. This is a partnership, in the cleaning, the grocery shopping, and everything."
"Guys... remember the little things, the things that you did that first year you were dating. Remember to give her a kiss when you wake up or a kiss when you walk in the door. You can never say 'I Love You' enough. Get up early in the morning and go get her breakfast, even when you could use that extra hour of sleep. And really, any little thing that you think could be corny or lame, go ahead and do it, because it means the world to her."
"When your wife wants a dog, tell her no. When you want a dog, say no."
"This is for the wives: When your husband has these weird ideas--like riding a horse, getting a kayak, riding a Harley, scuba-diving, or at the greatest extreme, climbing Mount Everest--just know that this is his adventurous side coming out. It's not that he's bored with you, but he's just being 'wild at heart.' Remember that his greatest accomplishment is you."
"Guys, we're always one not to take advice, but it's good to take advice, even from older guys who may have written you poems in high school. It's always good to listen to what they have to say."
"Last, and finally, it's always good to take a moment every day, whether in the morning or at night, to pray for your spouse, because whatever issues you may be going through, she might be going through, too. Even if it's just putting up with you, or work, or anything, always pray for her. There isn't a class about marriage. This is an up front, hands on experience."
OKAY! That was the real thing, from the male perspective after the first year!!
When I read Hubby the stuff I sent you, he thought it was hilarious. I asked him if he had anything to add, and so he gave me his Top Ten. I didn't make these up--these are all Hubby:
"Have patience, because you are not used to her emotional side, but you are used to walking it off or putting dirt on it."
"Never go to bed angry. Don't let it go just to quit an argument. Work through it together"."
"Everybody will say she's always right, but that's wrong, and nobody is perfect."
"When in competition with your wife, it is best to use what I learned while riding my motorcycle--the SEE method of Search-Evaluate-Execute. Search for the problem. Evaluate the problem, seeing what you can and can't do to make it better, and Execute that solution."
"Expect her to do everything. Just kidding... expect each team member to do his or her own part. This is a partnership, in the cleaning, the grocery shopping, and everything."
"Guys... remember the little things, the things that you did that first year you were dating. Remember to give her a kiss when you wake up or a kiss when you walk in the door. You can never say 'I Love You' enough. Get up early in the morning and go get her breakfast, even when you could use that extra hour of sleep. And really, any little thing that you think could be corny or lame, go ahead and do it, because it means the world to her."
"When your wife wants a dog, tell her no. When you want a dog, say no."
"This is for the wives: When your husband has these weird ideas--like riding a horse, getting a kayak, riding a Harley, scuba-diving, or at the greatest extreme, climbing Mount Everest--just know that this is his adventurous side coming out. It's not that he's bored with you, but he's just being 'wild at heart.' Remember that his greatest accomplishment is you."
"Guys, we're always one not to take advice, but it's good to take advice, even from older guys who may have written you poems in high school. It's always good to listen to what they have to say."
"Last, and finally, it's always good to take a moment every day, whether in the morning or at night, to pray for your spouse, because whatever issues you may be going through, she might be going through, too. Even if it's just putting up with you, or work, or anything, always pray for her. There isn't a class about marriage. This is an up front, hands on experience."
OKAY! That was the real thing, from the male perspective after the first year!!
Wife of One Year Shares NewlyWed Advice!
Okay! Since the question comes up that so much material for premarital conversations/coaching comes from men, I asked one of my newlywed wife friends to write me what I should share, to get the lady's perspective on things. My specific question was, "what do you what me to be sure to pass on to the young couples?".
Since this is SO from the heart, I deleted personal references. Here's her response:
LOL!!! Tell them to run now while they still can! Lol... j/k completely...
I think the biggest thing for us has been learning how to communicate as married people and not as dating people. I was telling a friend about this just the other day... before we were married, we had everyday life STUFF (i.e. finances, family stuff, job stuff, school stuff, home stuff, etc.) that we dealt with on an individual basis. You're constantly dealing with those things, but not in conjunction with your boyfriend/girlfriend, fiance, etc. You keep those things separate and talk about them with that person at dinner or on the phone, but for the most part, you're dealing with your stuff and he or she is dealing with his or hers.
Now that we're married, our lives are completely slammed together... my job stuff, his job stuff, OUR home stuff, our finances, etc., and we are not only trying to keep the relationship alive, but we're now dealing with life issues with a person with whom we never had to deal with those things before. It's different from working out issues with a roommate or with a parent, because of the nature of the marriage relationship, but it's important to work through those communication issues through open honesty and humility.
With that being said, for ladies, I think it's important that for those brief moments in time in which we are seeking positive, open communication, we are able to put our emotionality down for a second and trust our guys to make good decisions. For example, when we first started dealing with certain STUFF issues, hubby and I would get into heated discussions and I would get frustrated and scream or fuss or cry, etc. My conflict style is to just leave the room, so a lot of times I would try to squeeze in a last word and leave. hubby's conflict style is to just sulk up and not say anything.
Between those two things, we never got anything accomplished. In those conversations now, it's important for both of us to be honest and for me to take the emotional card out of the deck for a short time and not let my feelings stepped on. It's almost humorous now, because we'll say, "I'm not trying to make you mad, but I just want you to be aware of this..." I think for guys, it's important to realize that we need to communicate often about STUFF and that he needs to be the leader in those conversations in order to make sure that the girl feels secure and steady.
Other things... I think it's important to be forgiving, both for the other person and for yourself. If there's anything that God has taught me in the last year, it's what grace really is. It's living with somebody who sees your every flaw... how you get angry over the little things, how you hate putting dishes from the sink to the dishwasher, how you love to sulk up, etc... but still loves you and wants to make this marriage thing work.
On the flip side, when you understand that side of yourself, you understand the consequences of your actions and how they affect other people, no matter how big or how small, and that makes you want to go to the cross because you now know why Jesus wants to refine you. I think it's important to have grace for that other person because it is undoubtedly a huge transition period, but also grace and forgiveness for yourself because you know God is leading and directing you and polishing you into something better.
This is a very long-winded email, so here are my top ten things I thing newly-married ladies should remember in marriage:
10) You are not your husband's mom, and he may or may not look at you that way. It's important to be very clear about that in a loving way. You are going to be handling some of the same household things that a husband may be used to from a mom, but you need to encourage and discuss how household things are going to be done as a couple.
9) Guy time is just as important as your girl time, and when he hangs out with his friends, it's not because he is getting tired of you. I think hubby is a more content person when he can get out those testosterone spells with his guys, and it gives us a chance to be independent of one another for a while and still bring that individuality into our marriage.
8) If he ignores you, fails to realize what he's done, or does something that you want to throw a plate at him for, it's probably not his fault, but probably just because he is a guy and didn't look at it the way you did. I finally realized that there are a lot of times I will get frustrated with hubby that he has no clue at because I looked at it from a female perspective and he looked at it from a male perspective.
7) Don't get mad at him when he is clueless, but have some of that mercy and grace I was talking about.
6) Understand that he is going to get frustrated with you because you are an emotional creature and that he is learning how to show mercy and grace just like you are.
5) Build a positive relationship with your spouse's family, and show them that you have something to offer. You are a member of that family now, too, and sometimes that can be overwhelming, but don't be afraid to step up to the plate and bring a dessert to Christmas without being asked, etc.
4) Open and honest communication and prayer is the most important factor to making stuff work, but it is also the hardest thing to do. Put your pride down and be real with what you're thinking... your spouse will appreciate it.
3) Do not feel like you are Super Woman and can handle everything all at once, like school, work, home stuff, etc. There's a cross where you're supposed to put those burdens, and it takes time to learn how to manage time, energy, and responsibility like the Proverbs 31 woman. I think that woman must be the Proverbs 31 grandma, because there are days when I feel like I'll never figure that stuff out.
2) Equip your husband to feel adventurous. Give him opportunities to "save the day," to build things, to be a leader, and to know that he's successful. This is how he's made in the image of God, and if he understands how he is created in God's image, then he will more aptly pursue an understanding of how you are created in God's image as a girl.
1) Respect your husband, because that's what the Bible says we're supposed to do and because it's what our husbands need. Even if there are days when he is a complete jerk, he still needs respect because he's the head of the household and that's how God made it. Put the emotions away and still treat him respectfully, and eventually, you can work out whatever issue it is for the greater benefit.
Wow... that's a lot of information, but I hope it is helpful. I can't believe it's almost been a year for us! I tell people that this is my first year teaching and my first year of marriage, and that all I know is that I have more gray hairs than I used to and no idea where they came from :-D. Thanks for asking me for my input... anytime I can help someone out from what I've learned, it's a great thing.
Since this is SO from the heart, I deleted personal references. Here's her response:
LOL!!! Tell them to run now while they still can! Lol... j/k completely...
I think the biggest thing for us has been learning how to communicate as married people and not as dating people. I was telling a friend about this just the other day... before we were married, we had everyday life STUFF (i.e. finances, family stuff, job stuff, school stuff, home stuff, etc.) that we dealt with on an individual basis. You're constantly dealing with those things, but not in conjunction with your boyfriend/girlfriend, fiance, etc. You keep those things separate and talk about them with that person at dinner or on the phone, but for the most part, you're dealing with your stuff and he or she is dealing with his or hers.
Now that we're married, our lives are completely slammed together... my job stuff, his job stuff, OUR home stuff, our finances, etc., and we are not only trying to keep the relationship alive, but we're now dealing with life issues with a person with whom we never had to deal with those things before. It's different from working out issues with a roommate or with a parent, because of the nature of the marriage relationship, but it's important to work through those communication issues through open honesty and humility.
With that being said, for ladies, I think it's important that for those brief moments in time in which we are seeking positive, open communication, we are able to put our emotionality down for a second and trust our guys to make good decisions. For example, when we first started dealing with certain STUFF issues, hubby and I would get into heated discussions and I would get frustrated and scream or fuss or cry, etc. My conflict style is to just leave the room, so a lot of times I would try to squeeze in a last word and leave. hubby's conflict style is to just sulk up and not say anything.
Between those two things, we never got anything accomplished. In those conversations now, it's important for both of us to be honest and for me to take the emotional card out of the deck for a short time and not let my feelings stepped on. It's almost humorous now, because we'll say, "I'm not trying to make you mad, but I just want you to be aware of this..." I think for guys, it's important to realize that we need to communicate often about STUFF and that he needs to be the leader in those conversations in order to make sure that the girl feels secure and steady.
Other things... I think it's important to be forgiving, both for the other person and for yourself. If there's anything that God has taught me in the last year, it's what grace really is. It's living with somebody who sees your every flaw... how you get angry over the little things, how you hate putting dishes from the sink to the dishwasher, how you love to sulk up, etc... but still loves you and wants to make this marriage thing work.
On the flip side, when you understand that side of yourself, you understand the consequences of your actions and how they affect other people, no matter how big or how small, and that makes you want to go to the cross because you now know why Jesus wants to refine you. I think it's important to have grace for that other person because it is undoubtedly a huge transition period, but also grace and forgiveness for yourself because you know God is leading and directing you and polishing you into something better.
This is a very long-winded email, so here are my top ten things I thing newly-married ladies should remember in marriage:
10) You are not your husband's mom, and he may or may not look at you that way. It's important to be very clear about that in a loving way. You are going to be handling some of the same household things that a husband may be used to from a mom, but you need to encourage and discuss how household things are going to be done as a couple.
9) Guy time is just as important as your girl time, and when he hangs out with his friends, it's not because he is getting tired of you. I think hubby is a more content person when he can get out those testosterone spells with his guys, and it gives us a chance to be independent of one another for a while and still bring that individuality into our marriage.
8) If he ignores you, fails to realize what he's done, or does something that you want to throw a plate at him for, it's probably not his fault, but probably just because he is a guy and didn't look at it the way you did. I finally realized that there are a lot of times I will get frustrated with hubby that he has no clue at because I looked at it from a female perspective and he looked at it from a male perspective.
7) Don't get mad at him when he is clueless, but have some of that mercy and grace I was talking about.
6) Understand that he is going to get frustrated with you because you are an emotional creature and that he is learning how to show mercy and grace just like you are.
5) Build a positive relationship with your spouse's family, and show them that you have something to offer. You are a member of that family now, too, and sometimes that can be overwhelming, but don't be afraid to step up to the plate and bring a dessert to Christmas without being asked, etc.
4) Open and honest communication and prayer is the most important factor to making stuff work, but it is also the hardest thing to do. Put your pride down and be real with what you're thinking... your spouse will appreciate it.
3) Do not feel like you are Super Woman and can handle everything all at once, like school, work, home stuff, etc. There's a cross where you're supposed to put those burdens, and it takes time to learn how to manage time, energy, and responsibility like the Proverbs 31 woman. I think that woman must be the Proverbs 31 grandma, because there are days when I feel like I'll never figure that stuff out.
2) Equip your husband to feel adventurous. Give him opportunities to "save the day," to build things, to be a leader, and to know that he's successful. This is how he's made in the image of God, and if he understands how he is created in God's image, then he will more aptly pursue an understanding of how you are created in God's image as a girl.
1) Respect your husband, because that's what the Bible says we're supposed to do and because it's what our husbands need. Even if there are days when he is a complete jerk, he still needs respect because he's the head of the household and that's how God made it. Put the emotions away and still treat him respectfully, and eventually, you can work out whatever issue it is for the greater benefit.
Wow... that's a lot of information, but I hope it is helpful. I can't believe it's almost been a year for us! I tell people that this is my first year teaching and my first year of marriage, and that all I know is that I have more gray hairs than I used to and no idea where they came from :-D. Thanks for asking me for my input... anytime I can help someone out from what I've learned, it's a great thing.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
What Is A Life Purpose Coach?
This is an email answer I gave to a young friend who asked: What is a Certified Life Purpose Coach?
The Life Purpose Coaching is a more specific type of coaching, aimed at helping you discover your unique design, and how God has directed you and equipped you so far. Of interest is what you enjoy doing and being the most. The point is to help YOU find the directions you should be going, to fufill your purpose. Often I work with a client through a book, one chapter per week that we both read, that helps dig into one's heart and mind. There are numerous possibilities: The Power of a Loving Man, S.H.A.P.E, Character Makeover, Telling Yourself the Truth, a John Eldredge book, or The Purpose Driven Life. Some of these things will beat us up in showing us our weaknesses!
Using the SHAPE concept, we could focus on 5 things: S - Spiritual Gift: (if you don't know yours yet, we have an inventory to help with that;) H - Heart: What's in your heart, what excites you, what would you do for free? A - Abilities: What skills or talents with people, computers, machinery, etc. do you have? P - Personality: Again, several tools are available here, like the DISC, to help you see how you work best with projects & people. E - Experiences: Where have you been, what have you done that contributes to who you are, and what you can do? How is God bringing all this together???
For a motivated man, I'd suggest we'd work through the S.H.A.P.E. book. If you're kind of "stuck" emotionally, kind of in a rut, we might use Telling Yourself The Truth. The format is a 10-week relationship, or based on the book chapters. It's generally a 50 minute telephone or face-to-face session. I'd rather work with a person who wants to change and grow, and trust the Lord for the results. He orders the book from Amazon, or wherever, and we'd go to work. We could meet somewhere convenient, or work by telephone, with email updates.
Sometimes I just listen to a guy: maybe where he's hurting, struggling... I've had several phone clients passed on from doctors, and I just kind of listen, ask a few questions, poke around, let him find his own strengths in the Lord.
A fellow looking at Holy Matrimony might be more interested in something on those lines... but being pounded with the material in S.H.A.P.E or Character Makeover would be fine preparation!
I've learned my spiritual gift is exhortation (encouragement), and part of my heart is the "least of these"... (and all of us feel like the least of these, sometimes!!) That shows up in my doing parenting classes for the Women's Resource Center, (for DFCS and Court Ordered adults who are trying to get their children back, or at least visitation rights).... that's feeling pretty "least". Another great part of my heart is my "younger brothers" (and I do work with the college & young singles in Sunday School, having spent some years with youth in general, and middle schoolers in particular).
SEE, knowing these things about myself, helps me know the areas/offers I'd thrive in, and also the areas that really wear me down. Then I can listen to my heart, and know which opportunities to say yes to (like working with a client, doing Middle School VBS) and the things to say no to (like being an active deacon again, after years of that, or working at a maintenance type job).
I am glad to work with an individual in any way that works for them. One thing we guys need is strong bonds and support systems... and I have friends in every decade of life that I know would "come back for me" like the Marines do, if they knew I was in trouble. Developing those type relationships doesn't come fast or cheaply, but is key to seeing the growth and maturity each of us is looking to build!
The Life Purpose Coaching is a more specific type of coaching, aimed at helping you discover your unique design, and how God has directed you and equipped you so far. Of interest is what you enjoy doing and being the most. The point is to help YOU find the directions you should be going, to fufill your purpose. Often I work with a client through a book, one chapter per week that we both read, that helps dig into one's heart and mind. There are numerous possibilities: The Power of a Loving Man, S.H.A.P.E, Character Makeover, Telling Yourself the Truth, a John Eldredge book, or The Purpose Driven Life. Some of these things will beat us up in showing us our weaknesses!
Using the SHAPE concept, we could focus on 5 things: S - Spiritual Gift: (if you don't know yours yet, we have an inventory to help with that;) H - Heart: What's in your heart, what excites you, what would you do for free? A - Abilities: What skills or talents with people, computers, machinery, etc. do you have? P - Personality: Again, several tools are available here, like the DISC, to help you see how you work best with projects & people. E - Experiences: Where have you been, what have you done that contributes to who you are, and what you can do? How is God bringing all this together???
For a motivated man, I'd suggest we'd work through the S.H.A.P.E. book. If you're kind of "stuck" emotionally, kind of in a rut, we might use Telling Yourself The Truth. The format is a 10-week relationship, or based on the book chapters. It's generally a 50 minute telephone or face-to-face session. I'd rather work with a person who wants to change and grow, and trust the Lord for the results. He orders the book from Amazon, or wherever, and we'd go to work. We could meet somewhere convenient, or work by telephone, with email updates.
Sometimes I just listen to a guy: maybe where he's hurting, struggling... I've had several phone clients passed on from doctors, and I just kind of listen, ask a few questions, poke around, let him find his own strengths in the Lord.
A fellow looking at Holy Matrimony might be more interested in something on those lines... but being pounded with the material in S.H.A.P.E or Character Makeover would be fine preparation!
I've learned my spiritual gift is exhortation (encouragement), and part of my heart is the "least of these"... (and all of us feel like the least of these, sometimes!!) That shows up in my doing parenting classes for the Women's Resource Center, (for DFCS and Court Ordered adults who are trying to get their children back, or at least visitation rights).... that's feeling pretty "least". Another great part of my heart is my "younger brothers" (and I do work with the college & young singles in Sunday School, having spent some years with youth in general, and middle schoolers in particular).
SEE, knowing these things about myself, helps me know the areas/offers I'd thrive in, and also the areas that really wear me down. Then I can listen to my heart, and know which opportunities to say yes to (like working with a client, doing Middle School VBS) and the things to say no to (like being an active deacon again, after years of that, or working at a maintenance type job).
I am glad to work with an individual in any way that works for them. One thing we guys need is strong bonds and support systems... and I have friends in every decade of life that I know would "come back for me" like the Marines do, if they knew I was in trouble. Developing those type relationships doesn't come fast or cheaply, but is key to seeing the growth and maturity each of us is looking to build!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Easter's Basket For Us
Whether you got an Easter Basket or not, you certainly got the full benefit of all that Easter truly means: Resurrection power for whatever you need to do... or should do for Christ.
It is interesting to me that besides the angel appearances to the ladies at the Tomb, Jesus' resurrection went off with less noise and display than a local thunderstorm. Doggone it, sometimes we'd like to see just a little "more power"... like Tim Allen is always adding to everything in the "Home Improvement" reruns.
Evidently, The Lord is quite content to do His work quietly, until the final show at the end. Maybe a little spiritual fireworks along the way, nothing that makes the papers. So, when you and I are stuck, think about the disciples after Jesus' death. All looks lost, then He starts showing up again... appearing through walls, grilling breakfast on the seaside. Acts 1 & 2 indicate the Lord works for His Glory, not our entertainment. (By the way, to enjoy the breakfast, Peter had to get soaking wet!!)
Not many of my younger singles friends were alive when the Apollo 13 tragedy took place.... but if you've seen the movie, you recall a line where the Flight Director corrected "NASA's greatest disaster" into "our finest hour". That's kind of what Jesus does for us.... empowers our weak life to make Him Glorified...with duct tape, if necessary!!
For Extra Credit, see if you think anyone in this 40 year old photo looks like Tom Hanks....
(click on Apollo 13 for picture to load) Apollo 13
It is interesting to me that besides the angel appearances to the ladies at the Tomb, Jesus' resurrection went off with less noise and display than a local thunderstorm. Doggone it, sometimes we'd like to see just a little "more power"... like Tim Allen is always adding to everything in the "Home Improvement" reruns.
Evidently, The Lord is quite content to do His work quietly, until the final show at the end. Maybe a little spiritual fireworks along the way, nothing that makes the papers. So, when you and I are stuck, think about the disciples after Jesus' death. All looks lost, then He starts showing up again... appearing through walls, grilling breakfast on the seaside. Acts 1 & 2 indicate the Lord works for His Glory, not our entertainment. (By the way, to enjoy the breakfast, Peter had to get soaking wet!!)
Not many of my younger singles friends were alive when the Apollo 13 tragedy took place.... but if you've seen the movie, you recall a line where the Flight Director corrected "NASA's greatest disaster" into "our finest hour". That's kind of what Jesus does for us.... empowers our weak life to make Him Glorified...with duct tape, if necessary!!
For Extra Credit, see if you think anyone in this 40 year old photo looks like Tom Hanks....
(click on Apollo 13 for picture to load) Apollo 13
Thursday, April 9, 2009
CASA Training
Recently I've been involved with training to be a CASA volunteer. That acronym stands for "Court Appointed Special Advocate". A CASA is a person who works with DFACS, the Juvenile Justice System, and the adults who are involved in the life of any young person who has been removed from their home by Child Protection Services ( a division of the Department of Family and Children Services).
The CASA's job is to report to the Judge what the child would like to happen regarding his future custody, and to report what the CASA himself feels would be best for the child. This involves detailed investigation and conversation with family members, the current guardian of the child, DFACS case workers, Juvenile Justice staff, teachers, and any other adults who are knowledgeable about the child's life. Most importantly, a CASA is to get to know and speak for the child to the world of adults who are part of the decision-making process regarding his future home or placement.
In Georgia, there are strong legal directives toward permanency within a year. Parents who are charged with negligence, abuse, drug use, or other child-endangerment actions may have less than a year to correct their mistakes, reorder their home, lifestyle and work patterns.
In doing Parenting Education for the Bartow County Women's Resource Center, a non-profit which provides training for parents, I see some interesting situations. Sometimes a parent starts a court ordered program, or only registers for classes, and then abandons their plan.... that often can mean they've given up hope of recovery to a level that the authorities determine they are capable of caring for their children. Other parents show me pictures of their children, telling me about them, and about their own desire to be reunited as a family.
Visiting in court settings, drug court, and panel reviews, I've witnessed some horrific stories and pictures of child abuse, which no adult caregiver can "explain". I've been in small conference rooms where a preschooler responds to the foster parent as a real mom, and does not even recognize the birth mother 1 seat away. Sometimes I've heard the people in charge of a child's welfare tell the family of origin: "you cannot demonstrate the ability to care for yourself, much less care for your child".
I have also seen parents make amazing progress in turning from a life of destruction, to self-sufficiency and renewal. I've heard judges tell parents, "I had no hope for you 2 years ago, and now am very proud of your progress, and am returning your children to you".
In the midst of an world-wide economic "meltdown", with the Pentagon's computer systems being assaulted millions of times per day, with the discovery that viruses and codes placed by foreign sources are scattered throughout our power grid control system, I have other news.
It is my conclusion that our greatest problem in America is the unreported headline story of the collapse of the American family. Greatly driven by the drug and sexual saturation of our culture, the implosion (and sometimes explosion) of the family as a unit in our country is now showing up in the 3rd generation of families.
We need to be praying for individuals in our legal system, law enforcement, and social services to be empowered to be strong in battle. The foe is unrelenting in his assault. Thankfully, there is an unseen army available on our behalf! (Josua 5:14-15).
The CASA's job is to report to the Judge what the child would like to happen regarding his future custody, and to report what the CASA himself feels would be best for the child. This involves detailed investigation and conversation with family members, the current guardian of the child, DFACS case workers, Juvenile Justice staff, teachers, and any other adults who are knowledgeable about the child's life. Most importantly, a CASA is to get to know and speak for the child to the world of adults who are part of the decision-making process regarding his future home or placement.
In Georgia, there are strong legal directives toward permanency within a year. Parents who are charged with negligence, abuse, drug use, or other child-endangerment actions may have less than a year to correct their mistakes, reorder their home, lifestyle and work patterns.
In doing Parenting Education for the Bartow County Women's Resource Center, a non-profit which provides training for parents, I see some interesting situations. Sometimes a parent starts a court ordered program, or only registers for classes, and then abandons their plan.... that often can mean they've given up hope of recovery to a level that the authorities determine they are capable of caring for their children. Other parents show me pictures of their children, telling me about them, and about their own desire to be reunited as a family.
Visiting in court settings, drug court, and panel reviews, I've witnessed some horrific stories and pictures of child abuse, which no adult caregiver can "explain". I've been in small conference rooms where a preschooler responds to the foster parent as a real mom, and does not even recognize the birth mother 1 seat away. Sometimes I've heard the people in charge of a child's welfare tell the family of origin: "you cannot demonstrate the ability to care for yourself, much less care for your child".
I have also seen parents make amazing progress in turning from a life of destruction, to self-sufficiency and renewal. I've heard judges tell parents, "I had no hope for you 2 years ago, and now am very proud of your progress, and am returning your children to you".
In the midst of an world-wide economic "meltdown", with the Pentagon's computer systems being assaulted millions of times per day, with the discovery that viruses and codes placed by foreign sources are scattered throughout our power grid control system, I have other news.
It is my conclusion that our greatest problem in America is the unreported headline story of the collapse of the American family. Greatly driven by the drug and sexual saturation of our culture, the implosion (and sometimes explosion) of the family as a unit in our country is now showing up in the 3rd generation of families.
We need to be praying for individuals in our legal system, law enforcement, and social services to be empowered to be strong in battle. The foe is unrelenting in his assault. Thankfully, there is an unseen army available on our behalf! (Josua 5:14-15).
Friday, April 3, 2009
Dark Tombs, Heavy Stones
When the time of Easter approaches, it reminds me of the amazing chain of events that was triggered by Jesus' Resurrection. Our sins were nailed in effect to His cross, and as He rose from the dead, we did as well.
Cleansing and being right with God had always been possible... the Old Testament proclaims that when it speaks of men like Moses, with whom God spoke face to face. Our friends Enoch and Elijah were taken up to the heavens, and David was a man "after God's own heart".
A pure heart before God was possible, but the sacrifices for sin were complex (read Deuteronomy again!), and the Holy Spirit was not available to indwell every believer until 40 days after Jesus' ascension. Those of us living post Pentecost have much to be grateful for about our relationship with the Lord!!
But we can still fail to walk in that fullness, still fail to claim His power for our day, and still fail to invite Him to be part of each of our activities. We can actually get buried in emotional, spiritual, and psychological tombs... as dark as the unused tomb where Nicodemus and friends laid Jesus' body, before the Roman soldiers rolled the stone and sealed the opening. We can live in Dark Tombs, with Heavy Stones.
How to get out? Well, Jesus had demonstrated it with his good friend Lazarus... saying, "Lazarus, come forth". I think it's safe to say that God wants all of us out of our tombs, and unwrapped from the graveclothes of the past. God is calling us out of those dark, heavy histories of life. When Jesus came out of His tomb, He brought us and our stories out with Him, into Heaven's light!
Confess them, Reject Them, Correct Them, and Leave Them Behind!!
Cleansing and being right with God had always been possible... the Old Testament proclaims that when it speaks of men like Moses, with whom God spoke face to face. Our friends Enoch and Elijah were taken up to the heavens, and David was a man "after God's own heart".
A pure heart before God was possible, but the sacrifices for sin were complex (read Deuteronomy again!), and the Holy Spirit was not available to indwell every believer until 40 days after Jesus' ascension. Those of us living post Pentecost have much to be grateful for about our relationship with the Lord!!
But we can still fail to walk in that fullness, still fail to claim His power for our day, and still fail to invite Him to be part of each of our activities. We can actually get buried in emotional, spiritual, and psychological tombs... as dark as the unused tomb where Nicodemus and friends laid Jesus' body, before the Roman soldiers rolled the stone and sealed the opening. We can live in Dark Tombs, with Heavy Stones.
How to get out? Well, Jesus had demonstrated it with his good friend Lazarus... saying, "Lazarus, come forth". I think it's safe to say that God wants all of us out of our tombs, and unwrapped from the graveclothes of the past. God is calling us out of those dark, heavy histories of life. When Jesus came out of His tomb, He brought us and our stories out with Him, into Heaven's light!
Confess them, Reject Them, Correct Them, and Leave Them Behind!!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
25 Things - The Early Years
1. This is a response to a survey: "25 Little Known Things About Yourself".
2. I was born at a very early age, in the offices of Dr. Williams & Dr. Cochran.
3. My family at that time lived in a 2 story house, built by a plantation owner in 1823.
4. Remodeling through the years consisted of removing the rooms that had collapsed.
5. The house was something of a weather predictor. You knew it was snowing, if snow drifted in through the cracks in the back door of the center hall.
6. My sister and I shared bunk beds in the center hall. We had to knock on the kitchen wall to see if it was warm enough from the coal stove for us to get up.
7. Our farm at different times had sheep, cows, a pony, ducks, chickens... and all the grasses and feed for each one.
8. By age 5, testing at TEPPER CLINIC demonstrated that I was allergic to every animal, grass, and tree on our 320 acre farm... father's cigarette smoke was just an added bonus to the list.
9. I loved living on the farm, working with brother and sister, riding my bike, roaming the woods, playing with the "hired man's" children, going for family walks, taking our ducks to the creek.
10. One time in the creek, a snake shot out of a small hole, and bit me on the knuckle of my finger. I knew to walk, not run home, and show mom the teeth marks. She didn't believe me. I didn't die.
11. My dad could fix anything. He had been a glider pilot in WW 2, then trained Veterans in the new farming skills that had developed in the years they'd been off in Europe or Asia. Everything I know how to fix, I learned from being at my father's side.
12. My first memory of my mother is her being sick in bed. She was sick a lot, and off at the hospital for weeks or months at a time. But she loved us, and was a great cook. That came to mind, eating Father's fried bologna/cheese sandwiches (don't ask) while she was away.
13. One time we got a pony. I didn't cinch the saddle tight enough once. Galloping in the back yard, the saddle slid to the bottom! Fortunately, hitting a metal pole sideways kept me from scraping the ground. I have always assumed that a pole to the gut beat a hoof to the head!!
14. My sister taught me my ABC's and to count to 100 before school started. I always thought that was why I did well in school early on.
15. I cried EVERY DAY for 2 weeks in the first grade. Mrs. Elizabeth Emerson finally learned to teach the class and hold me like a baby for hours. I missed the farm and home so much.
16. My brother, 9 years older, would come home from college and give us rides on the local roads on the back of his Triumph motorcycle.
17. Our first phone number was 935-3470. We were part of the Ringgold Telephone system, still a pioneer today in technology. They even had rotary dial car phones, back then!!
18. Our first TV was a black and white Motorola. Reception could be improved by me going outside in whatever weather, and turning the pole the antenna was on until somebody yelled "that's it"!!
19. We were poor, in some ways. It was bigger than Christmas when Aunt Robbie or Aunt Imogene brought bags of clothes and things that cousins had outgrown. I loved Popular Science magazine, even though I only got it 5 years after the publication date.
20. I loved astronomy. With no street lights, and living in a valley, you could actually see the stars in the sky that were in the books. No trip to a dizzying planetarium necessary.
21. When a bad storm came, it was believed you could avoid a tornado destroying your home by opening the southwest facing windows. We always did.
22. A night thunderstorm was the best time to go catfishing in the creek. The electrical activity, and the wind blowing things onto the water, made the catfish stir, and easier to catch. Always take a raincoat on these type family adventures.
23. My dad once bought a bulldozer that had transmission trouble. He could weld accurately, and over several months repaired the thing, and was able to open up the creek banks so the cows could get water better. The EPD would have him in jail today for that.
24. I learned years later, that though we only had one car, each of our tractors cost 4-5 times the price of one of the kinfolk's 2nd cars.
25. I have come to believe that if you can't sent your children to college, just raise them poor on the farm. They will learn everything but the calculus... and when are they going to use that? (Except in GA TECH football cheers, and those can't be written here.)
2. I was born at a very early age, in the offices of Dr. Williams & Dr. Cochran.
3. My family at that time lived in a 2 story house, built by a plantation owner in 1823.
4. Remodeling through the years consisted of removing the rooms that had collapsed.
5. The house was something of a weather predictor. You knew it was snowing, if snow drifted in through the cracks in the back door of the center hall.
6. My sister and I shared bunk beds in the center hall. We had to knock on the kitchen wall to see if it was warm enough from the coal stove for us to get up.
7. Our farm at different times had sheep, cows, a pony, ducks, chickens... and all the grasses and feed for each one.
8. By age 5, testing at TEPPER CLINIC demonstrated that I was allergic to every animal, grass, and tree on our 320 acre farm... father's cigarette smoke was just an added bonus to the list.
9. I loved living on the farm, working with brother and sister, riding my bike, roaming the woods, playing with the "hired man's" children, going for family walks, taking our ducks to the creek.
10. One time in the creek, a snake shot out of a small hole, and bit me on the knuckle of my finger. I knew to walk, not run home, and show mom the teeth marks. She didn't believe me. I didn't die.
11. My dad could fix anything. He had been a glider pilot in WW 2, then trained Veterans in the new farming skills that had developed in the years they'd been off in Europe or Asia. Everything I know how to fix, I learned from being at my father's side.
12. My first memory of my mother is her being sick in bed. She was sick a lot, and off at the hospital for weeks or months at a time. But she loved us, and was a great cook. That came to mind, eating Father's fried bologna/cheese sandwiches (don't ask) while she was away.
13. One time we got a pony. I didn't cinch the saddle tight enough once. Galloping in the back yard, the saddle slid to the bottom! Fortunately, hitting a metal pole sideways kept me from scraping the ground. I have always assumed that a pole to the gut beat a hoof to the head!!
14. My sister taught me my ABC's and to count to 100 before school started. I always thought that was why I did well in school early on.
15. I cried EVERY DAY for 2 weeks in the first grade. Mrs. Elizabeth Emerson finally learned to teach the class and hold me like a baby for hours. I missed the farm and home so much.
16. My brother, 9 years older, would come home from college and give us rides on the local roads on the back of his Triumph motorcycle.
17. Our first phone number was 935-3470. We were part of the Ringgold Telephone system, still a pioneer today in technology. They even had rotary dial car phones, back then!!
18. Our first TV was a black and white Motorola. Reception could be improved by me going outside in whatever weather, and turning the pole the antenna was on until somebody yelled "that's it"!!
19. We were poor, in some ways. It was bigger than Christmas when Aunt Robbie or Aunt Imogene brought bags of clothes and things that cousins had outgrown. I loved Popular Science magazine, even though I only got it 5 years after the publication date.
20. I loved astronomy. With no street lights, and living in a valley, you could actually see the stars in the sky that were in the books. No trip to a dizzying planetarium necessary.
21. When a bad storm came, it was believed you could avoid a tornado destroying your home by opening the southwest facing windows. We always did.
22. A night thunderstorm was the best time to go catfishing in the creek. The electrical activity, and the wind blowing things onto the water, made the catfish stir, and easier to catch. Always take a raincoat on these type family adventures.
23. My dad once bought a bulldozer that had transmission trouble. He could weld accurately, and over several months repaired the thing, and was able to open up the creek banks so the cows could get water better. The EPD would have him in jail today for that.
24. I learned years later, that though we only had one car, each of our tractors cost 4-5 times the price of one of the kinfolk's 2nd cars.
25. I have come to believe that if you can't sent your children to college, just raise them poor on the farm. They will learn everything but the calculus... and when are they going to use that? (Except in GA TECH football cheers, and those can't be written here.)
Friday, January 30, 2009
My Part, God's Part
As I was reading Exodus 14, I was reminded about something Hannah Whitehall Smith spoke of in The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life: "I do my part, He does His part." Obviously, this division may not ever be clear: it wasn't to Moses (who had already had several close conversations with the Great I AM), because God said,"Why are you calling out to Me? Raise your staff!" (Moses maybe: "Well, I was thinking it was about time YOU stepped in, seeing how I've never coached a Spiritual SuperBowl before!")
So Moses part was to: 1. Tell the people to quit whining and have some faith, 2. Raise his staff to trigger the waters parting, 3. Raise his staff to trigger the waters closing. (and we see a conversation with God before each action) So there is obviously no training video for working with God!!! Sometimes the staff becomes a snake, that eats other snakes.... (not a desirable outcome on the shore of the Red Sea!) Sometimes it's a water-parter, sometimes it's a valley-flooder... so you have to keep in close contact with Headquarters for action signals!
Lessons Learned: I have no idea sometimes what I'm to do. I have less idea what God is going to do (shift angels around, have daylight on one group, dark fog on an army, possibly part seas? Even when we do our part, we have no idea what the result of that will even be, since we're learning pretty fast He never does the same thing, the same way - shows His creativity, and ingenuity. And, the part I will be doing, will be so small and insignificant in the end, that God will get the glory for it.
I am reminded of a song from college days with a verse that starts out: "Master, I am drowning, You called me when the sun was shining, but there's a storm in my life and it's raging; oh, Lord, don't you care...."
But the study Experiencing God does help us learn to keep our "Spiritual Antennae" out, to see what He might be doing!
So Moses part was to: 1. Tell the people to quit whining and have some faith, 2. Raise his staff to trigger the waters parting, 3. Raise his staff to trigger the waters closing. (and we see a conversation with God before each action) So there is obviously no training video for working with God!!! Sometimes the staff becomes a snake, that eats other snakes.... (not a desirable outcome on the shore of the Red Sea!) Sometimes it's a water-parter, sometimes it's a valley-flooder... so you have to keep in close contact with Headquarters for action signals!
Lessons Learned: I have no idea sometimes what I'm to do. I have less idea what God is going to do (shift angels around, have daylight on one group, dark fog on an army, possibly part seas? Even when we do our part, we have no idea what the result of that will even be, since we're learning pretty fast He never does the same thing, the same way - shows His creativity, and ingenuity. And, the part I will be doing, will be so small and insignificant in the end, that God will get the glory for it.
I am reminded of a song from college days with a verse that starts out: "Master, I am drowning, You called me when the sun was shining, but there's a storm in my life and it's raging; oh, Lord, don't you care...."
But the study Experiencing God does help us learn to keep our "Spiritual Antennae" out, to see what He might be doing!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Master on Mission in Mark 5
An amazing amount of information is in Mark Chapter 5. Jesus healed a man of evil spirits, and his life was transformed. Interestingly, Jesus left after that one seashore event near the Decapolis area (10 cities). Instead of allowing the delivered man to become a fellow traveler, Jesus instructs the man to go home to his people, and tell his story. One man, with a transformed life, was all the missionary that the ten towns would need!! Hmm, an example for us??
Later, in another seashore area, Jesus was following Jairus to his home to heal the man's daughter. A woman touches the hem of his robe, believing that will bring healing for her long term bleeding. It does, and she can feel the change inside herself!
Jesus also felt the exchange, and asked, "Who touched My Robe?" (MSG). The disciples think it a silly question. They point out that in the jostling crowd, dozens of people would have touched Him. We always look at the story of faith of the woman who confessed being the person He was looking for in the crowd. He compliments her "risk of faith", and says she is healed (which she has already experienced).
What I've never seen before is revealed in what the disciples have said. There are many people around Jesus in this setting, who would have touched Him, and come in contact with Him more vigorously than the simple touch at the edge of His robe.
Dozens have touched Him, been close, come in contact with Him... and came away with nothing... Ouch! The Master Teacher, The Creator Of The Universe, is in their hometown... and they take no advantage of it, just pass by Him with no improvement in life inside, or outside.
I don't want to be like that: coming into contact with Jesus through worship and study experiences, prayer and preaching events, and leave without being changed.
Later, in another seashore area, Jesus was following Jairus to his home to heal the man's daughter. A woman touches the hem of his robe, believing that will bring healing for her long term bleeding. It does, and she can feel the change inside herself!
Jesus also felt the exchange, and asked, "Who touched My Robe?" (MSG). The disciples think it a silly question. They point out that in the jostling crowd, dozens of people would have touched Him. We always look at the story of faith of the woman who confessed being the person He was looking for in the crowd. He compliments her "risk of faith", and says she is healed (which she has already experienced).
What I've never seen before is revealed in what the disciples have said. There are many people around Jesus in this setting, who would have touched Him, and come in contact with Him more vigorously than the simple touch at the edge of His robe.
Dozens have touched Him, been close, come in contact with Him... and came away with nothing... Ouch! The Master Teacher, The Creator Of The Universe, is in their hometown... and they take no advantage of it, just pass by Him with no improvement in life inside, or outside.
I don't want to be like that: coming into contact with Jesus through worship and study experiences, prayer and preaching events, and leave without being changed.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Attorney - In - Fact
For some years, I worked in a business situation where it was necessary for me to take action in the absence of and on behalf of the owner. A legal paper was executed, signed, and recorded at the local courthouse. It gave me "power of attorney" over the legal, financial, and business transactions of the owner. The legal terminology is that I was his "Attorney In Fact"... and I had a stamp that proved it! Often I had to use the stamp, or provide a certified copy of the "power of attorney" paper when signing legal or financial documents.
The wording of the document was quite interesting. Obviously, there has to be a great deal of trust involved, for such a document to be executed. But the permission to do business in the name of the owner was broad, general, and extended to every property and possession the business owned, in addition to financial assets. There was a phrase that really caught my attention, and was the most meaningful to me during the years I carried a miniature of the document in my wallet.
"To conduct business, and take necessary action on my behalf, as if I were personally present". In truth, I could have sold the man's house!!! In trust, I would only do the things directed, OR when unable to secure specific direction, do the things I believed he would want done. This was to insure that the business operations were to continue to function, grow, and expand, along the lines of our sometimes unwritten business plan. Often the owner would be gone for weeks at a time, sometimes outside the USA, and was even stranded overseas during the 9/11/2001 tragedy.
It seems to me as a Christian, that when Jesus gave His final farewell to His disciples, in Matthew 28, and in Acts 1, He was authorizing them, and us, to be His "Attorney In Fact". We are to do what He would do, if He were personally present! That's a challenging thought, and I think I probably was far more faithful in the business charge I had, than I have been in spiritual responsibilites!!
Wasn't Jesus saying to us: "You go and do, in My Name, as if I were personally present, until I get back"?
The wording of the document was quite interesting. Obviously, there has to be a great deal of trust involved, for such a document to be executed. But the permission to do business in the name of the owner was broad, general, and extended to every property and possession the business owned, in addition to financial assets. There was a phrase that really caught my attention, and was the most meaningful to me during the years I carried a miniature of the document in my wallet.
"To conduct business, and take necessary action on my behalf, as if I were personally present". In truth, I could have sold the man's house!!! In trust, I would only do the things directed, OR when unable to secure specific direction, do the things I believed he would want done. This was to insure that the business operations were to continue to function, grow, and expand, along the lines of our sometimes unwritten business plan. Often the owner would be gone for weeks at a time, sometimes outside the USA, and was even stranded overseas during the 9/11/2001 tragedy.
It seems to me as a Christian, that when Jesus gave His final farewell to His disciples, in Matthew 28, and in Acts 1, He was authorizing them, and us, to be His "Attorney In Fact". We are to do what He would do, if He were personally present! That's a challenging thought, and I think I probably was far more faithful in the business charge I had, than I have been in spiritual responsibilites!!
Wasn't Jesus saying to us: "You go and do, in My Name, as if I were personally present, until I get back"?
Executor, Fiduciary, Heirs at Will....What?
When my father passed away years ago, I became the executor of his will. The attorneys explained that it was my job to: "marshall and inventory the assets, to safeguard the assets, and to distribute the assets to the heirs at will". "Heirs at will" refers to the people in my father's will who were to receive something, and I happened to be one of those people. Then another term showed up: fiduciary... this relates to the legal entity that the government and other groups look to to handle the financial and tax matters of the estate. As it turns out, that was also me!!! It was my job to see that all the legal and financial requirements were fulfilled. It took a good bit of my time, and that of attorneys and accountants to satisfy the fiduciary requirements.
None of it was any fun... There was a business to operate, it was an hour away, and it was so complex, and emotionally involved. I am grateful for friends who cautioned, "you will not believe what people will say or do when an inheritance is being distributed". It was over 6 months before I found myself at the point of being free to grieve the loss of my dad. Everything had been seemingly fine, all taken care of, until that 2nd heart attack. Upon his death, a number of events were triggered, some of which are still in action today. An irreversible, and unstoppable chain of activity began to transfer assets from my father to those he intended to bless.
I have come to realize that all this is something of a picture for me of what our Heavenly Father is doing for us. The Bible says we are "his heirs" and "heirs with Abraham". When Jesus died on the Cross, an unstoppable, irreversible, and predetermined plan was set in motion, to bless all those who would accept His purchased forgiveness. The Holy Spirit works as executor, to help bring us into all the fullness of the Father's plan of blessing for His children. The resurrected Son Himself serves as Fiduciary, seeing that everything is done according to the Father's Will. A lot of days, that knowledge really comforts!
None of it was any fun... There was a business to operate, it was an hour away, and it was so complex, and emotionally involved. I am grateful for friends who cautioned, "you will not believe what people will say or do when an inheritance is being distributed". It was over 6 months before I found myself at the point of being free to grieve the loss of my dad. Everything had been seemingly fine, all taken care of, until that 2nd heart attack. Upon his death, a number of events were triggered, some of which are still in action today. An irreversible, and unstoppable chain of activity began to transfer assets from my father to those he intended to bless.
I have come to realize that all this is something of a picture for me of what our Heavenly Father is doing for us. The Bible says we are "his heirs" and "heirs with Abraham". When Jesus died on the Cross, an unstoppable, irreversible, and predetermined plan was set in motion, to bless all those who would accept His purchased forgiveness. The Holy Spirit works as executor, to help bring us into all the fullness of the Father's plan of blessing for His children. The resurrected Son Himself serves as Fiduciary, seeing that everything is done according to the Father's Will. A lot of days, that knowledge really comforts!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Helping a Hypothetical Friend
A friend asked me what I might suggest for a hypothetical acquaintance who was weary juggling family, job, marriage, church involvement, economic stresses, and community activities. These are some things I quickly thought of to share with that hypothetical friend.
Margin - a number of Christian spiritual thinkers are saying we need to start building more margin into our lives. That means a buffer between us and so much activity, giving some breathing room. Maybe reduce the time we spend checking the news...fast from something (more folks now are talking about 1 meal, or 1 normal activity - or chocolate, etc.) just to help focus.
Exercise - most anybody will tell us that the more we can exercise, the more fit we'll be, and the better we'll sleep. 1/2 hour per day is recommended... and maybe leave the ipod at home. A simple walk can suffice, these days, the cheaper, the better! I have temp masks that allow me to walk in freezing temps.
Rewards - maybe start rewarding oneself upon accomplishment of certain tasks; really! For a CPA, I might suggest, if he finishes up a payroll report, or completes a tax return, trot down the stairs, around the new hardwood, go get a treat stashed in the vehicle! Or, phone a buddy in SS class, just to boost his morale.
Do the jumble on line http://www.jumble.com/ . Or, save the fun things in his day, "till after I finish this". Somehow encourage him to build in some rewards, even if small, silly, or contrived.
Refresh - more and more, especially with this economic daily news, we need refreshing. Lunch with someone who can relate, connect... even pray in their vehicle together, about real stuff. I went to a counselor on two different occasions, relating to job changes. At the end of 3-4 sessions, I commented that he was really just a paid friend. He Agreed!!! He said, "that's all I am!" But we are so disconnected from folks, and so superficial in relationships, that it would take a lot for us to open up to someone we'd trust enough to share real stuff. Perish the thought that we should admit an inadequacy, or a concern that's bugging us. That's a serious guy problem today. [[Top Sacred: I find some of my best talks can be with my ADD friends, or one who's been divorced! The ADD guy can't keep himself from talking! And the divorced guy, if a maturing Christian, has been so broken open like a watermelon in front of everybody, he no longer has any reservations!]]
Re-Checking - I have a couple of guys who use me, or I them, just as accountability partners in certain areas. Simple as trying to be sure both of us contact 2 guys a week on 100+ person SS list ( that had some great results with families, we both got bogged down and quit) A prayer commitment for 2 weeks about a certain issue, and then check to see what results have shown. So this can be with someone he's not deep friends with, just has enough respect for in a mutual area of concern.
Reading - LifeWay and Family Christian websites have lots of good books... and then he may find them on Amazon for 1c... + $4 shipping. Maybe realize that he CAN do without the news every other day. Turn up the good, turn down the bad.
Recharge - The AJC Sunday paper has 1-tank getaways from Atlanta... ideas of just getting out of town. But even some really cheap stuff... visit the new public library... plunk down the money for a Tellus visit. Do different things than he's been doing. Drive different roads to work daily. Call the old buddy who meant lots in college...(facebook searches can be produce neat connections). Break out of any routine he can, to get to the stuff that energizes you. One guy personally can't tolerate anti-depressants, so he watches Joel Osteen while he irons!!
Renew - Spiritually. Be sure to build in time for a daily time with the Lord. Tell this guy to try some different things. Read through Bible in a new translation... read books out of order! I am constantly reading spiritually stirring stuff, in addition to the Bible, and preparing for two SS lessons per week. The time with the Lord is critical, and sometimes it's enhanced by a book by John Ortberg, John Eldredge, Katie Brazelton, etc.
Re-educate! Maybe take a parenting course through the BCWRC like ScreamFree Parenting, Value Packed Parenting, Raising Kids That Turn Out Right, etc. Sometimes a few tips can help improve family life tremendously! I once heard that if you go to a conference, and get one good idea that works, it was worth your money.
Reconnect - with family. More and more parenting professionals, and counselors, are bemoaning the number of things we have our children in and going to. Maybe this fellow and his family need to consider something I recently heard: 1 activity, per child, per season. Avoid traveling teams like the flu!! Get in the floor, with a board game, and tape the TV remote to the back of the TV.
Slow Down - deliberately wait 24 hours to respond to some personal emails (maybe). Get in the longest line at Walmart. He may want to practice 1/2 day per week doing things like that... taking the road home with the most redlights... to practice slowing down, and seeing that God still takes care of things.
Power Boosts - http://www.ransomedheart.net/, http://www.purposedriven.net/, http://www.screamfree.com/, http://www.joelosteen.com/ , http://www.intouch.com/ all offer emailed devotionals that mostly come in the morning, that could be of help to our friend... just be careful not to overload the inbox!! Also, he can go to GodTube, and YouTube, and search for his favorite songs... minimize, and have a mini worship service at work or home.
These are just some things off the top of my head that could be of service. Obviously, if I got to talk to him personally, I might could better tailor a plan that would be more suitable. Some of these things he might pick up and try, and get help from on his own. Other guys might want a more accountable relationship, where one walks alongside, checking in on him weekly. NOT the "did you commit one of these sins this week" but "we talked about you trying this and that... did you? How did it work out? Would something else get a better result? What else do you want to work on?" etc.
I've talked about this guy so much, it's almost like he's become real! Maybe he is... he sounds like most of us!
Margin - a number of Christian spiritual thinkers are saying we need to start building more margin into our lives. That means a buffer between us and so much activity, giving some breathing room. Maybe reduce the time we spend checking the news...fast from something (more folks now are talking about 1 meal, or 1 normal activity - or chocolate, etc.) just to help focus.
Exercise - most anybody will tell us that the more we can exercise, the more fit we'll be, and the better we'll sleep. 1/2 hour per day is recommended... and maybe leave the ipod at home. A simple walk can suffice, these days, the cheaper, the better! I have temp masks that allow me to walk in freezing temps.
Rewards - maybe start rewarding oneself upon accomplishment of certain tasks; really! For a CPA, I might suggest, if he finishes up a payroll report, or completes a tax return, trot down the stairs, around the new hardwood, go get a treat stashed in the vehicle! Or, phone a buddy in SS class, just to boost his morale.
Do the jumble on line http://www.jumble.com/ . Or, save the fun things in his day, "till after I finish this". Somehow encourage him to build in some rewards, even if small, silly, or contrived.
Refresh - more and more, especially with this economic daily news, we need refreshing. Lunch with someone who can relate, connect... even pray in their vehicle together, about real stuff. I went to a counselor on two different occasions, relating to job changes. At the end of 3-4 sessions, I commented that he was really just a paid friend. He Agreed!!! He said, "that's all I am!" But we are so disconnected from folks, and so superficial in relationships, that it would take a lot for us to open up to someone we'd trust enough to share real stuff. Perish the thought that we should admit an inadequacy, or a concern that's bugging us. That's a serious guy problem today. [[Top Sacred: I find some of my best talks can be with my ADD friends, or one who's been divorced! The ADD guy can't keep himself from talking! And the divorced guy, if a maturing Christian, has been so broken open like a watermelon in front of everybody, he no longer has any reservations!]]
Re-Checking - I have a couple of guys who use me, or I them, just as accountability partners in certain areas. Simple as trying to be sure both of us contact 2 guys a week on 100+ person SS list ( that had some great results with families, we both got bogged down and quit) A prayer commitment for 2 weeks about a certain issue, and then check to see what results have shown. So this can be with someone he's not deep friends with, just has enough respect for in a mutual area of concern.
Reading - LifeWay and Family Christian websites have lots of good books... and then he may find them on Amazon for 1c... + $4 shipping. Maybe realize that he CAN do without the news every other day. Turn up the good, turn down the bad.
Recharge - The AJC Sunday paper has 1-tank getaways from Atlanta... ideas of just getting out of town. But even some really cheap stuff... visit the new public library... plunk down the money for a Tellus visit. Do different things than he's been doing. Drive different roads to work daily. Call the old buddy who meant lots in college...(facebook searches can be produce neat connections). Break out of any routine he can, to get to the stuff that energizes you. One guy personally can't tolerate anti-depressants, so he watches Joel Osteen while he irons!!
Renew - Spiritually. Be sure to build in time for a daily time with the Lord. Tell this guy to try some different things. Read through Bible in a new translation... read books out of order! I am constantly reading spiritually stirring stuff, in addition to the Bible, and preparing for two SS lessons per week. The time with the Lord is critical, and sometimes it's enhanced by a book by John Ortberg, John Eldredge, Katie Brazelton, etc.
Re-educate! Maybe take a parenting course through the BCWRC like ScreamFree Parenting, Value Packed Parenting, Raising Kids That Turn Out Right, etc. Sometimes a few tips can help improve family life tremendously! I once heard that if you go to a conference, and get one good idea that works, it was worth your money.
Reconnect - with family. More and more parenting professionals, and counselors, are bemoaning the number of things we have our children in and going to. Maybe this fellow and his family need to consider something I recently heard: 1 activity, per child, per season. Avoid traveling teams like the flu!! Get in the floor, with a board game, and tape the TV remote to the back of the TV.
Slow Down - deliberately wait 24 hours to respond to some personal emails (maybe). Get in the longest line at Walmart. He may want to practice 1/2 day per week doing things like that... taking the road home with the most redlights... to practice slowing down, and seeing that God still takes care of things.
Power Boosts - http://www.ransomedheart.net/, http://www.purposedriven.net/, http://www.screamfree.com/, http://www.joelosteen.com/ , http://www.intouch.com/ all offer emailed devotionals that mostly come in the morning, that could be of help to our friend... just be careful not to overload the inbox!! Also, he can go to GodTube, and YouTube, and search for his favorite songs... minimize, and have a mini worship service at work or home.
These are just some things off the top of my head that could be of service. Obviously, if I got to talk to him personally, I might could better tailor a plan that would be more suitable. Some of these things he might pick up and try, and get help from on his own. Other guys might want a more accountable relationship, where one walks alongside, checking in on him weekly. NOT the "did you commit one of these sins this week" but "we talked about you trying this and that... did you? How did it work out? Would something else get a better result? What else do you want to work on?" etc.
I've talked about this guy so much, it's almost like he's become real! Maybe he is... he sounds like most of us!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Package Enroute!
It was a simple thing. A college daughter was back at school, and needed a new filter for her air cleaner. We have an account with a national company that supplies such. The representative was so kind as to do extra research to cross reference much info to find the right filter for an OLD unit. With a little more work, the order was charged, and set up for direct shipment by a well-known shipper to the college PO, and thus the daughter's inbox.
Problem - from tracking email, we noticed her address has gotten adjusted a little, omitting her name, and referring to daughter's address as a PO Box. The University calls it something else, and daughter is fearful that package will be rejected, based on printed policies. In fact, in 4 years, we've never referred to it on any address label as a PO Box. (I've seen it, I'd call it a PO Box!).
Father, having the University's number in my cell phone, calls the school's Post Office, speaks to one of the nicest people in the hemisphere, who assures dad that they are the receiving point for this shipper. They will make sure that daughter's inbox gets a note as soon as the package is received. Dad emails the tracking information, so both he and University PO can track the package. (This part is kind of fun... to note what cities a small package travels through). Hanging up the phone, the thought comes to mind, as if I were humorously speaking to my daughter... "You don't know who your father is..." (But all I had REALLY done was enlist the help of kind strangers in a simple quest).
Which brings to mind Bible stories that tell of angels' arrivals to reveal information: of babies on the way, of dangers to avoid, of future things to come that are too amazing to explain. What might be some of the good things God has on the way for us?
Are they in a distant city whose name is barely recognizable, that we have no contact with whatsoever? Could God's good things for us, scheduled for a delivery time unknown, be even now in the hands of a kind, and efficient stranger?
Silent He may seem sometimes, elusive may be His ways without a web-based tracking system,
unexplainable may be His methods... But surely He can be trusted for our provision, surely He can be depended upon for safe delivery!
Problem - from tracking email, we noticed her address has gotten adjusted a little, omitting her name, and referring to daughter's address as a PO Box. The University calls it something else, and daughter is fearful that package will be rejected, based on printed policies. In fact, in 4 years, we've never referred to it on any address label as a PO Box. (I've seen it, I'd call it a PO Box!).
Father, having the University's number in my cell phone, calls the school's Post Office, speaks to one of the nicest people in the hemisphere, who assures dad that they are the receiving point for this shipper. They will make sure that daughter's inbox gets a note as soon as the package is received. Dad emails the tracking information, so both he and University PO can track the package. (This part is kind of fun... to note what cities a small package travels through). Hanging up the phone, the thought comes to mind, as if I were humorously speaking to my daughter... "You don't know who your father is..." (But all I had REALLY done was enlist the help of kind strangers in a simple quest).
Which brings to mind Bible stories that tell of angels' arrivals to reveal information: of babies on the way, of dangers to avoid, of future things to come that are too amazing to explain. What might be some of the good things God has on the way for us?
Are they in a distant city whose name is barely recognizable, that we have no contact with whatsoever? Could God's good things for us, scheduled for a delivery time unknown, be even now in the hands of a kind, and efficient stranger?
Silent He may seem sometimes, elusive may be His ways without a web-based tracking system,
unexplainable may be His methods... But surely He can be trusted for our provision, surely He can be depended upon for safe delivery!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
God's Stories in My Backyard
In Matthew 13, Jesus told a number of parables, which some people call stories. Jesus' disciples asked Him why He was telling stories about farmers, birds, merchants, fishermen, and such common things. His response was that some people were ready to hear from God, some were not, and that the stories helped prepare people for insight and understanding.
Jesus often relates that the stories in Matthew are like the Kingdom. Looking over His parables in chapter 13, there are reports of farmers who have to wait to pull enemy-sown thistles until the final harvest. There is a story of a great tree, that comes from a quite small and unimpressive seed. Another parable says the Kingdom is like yeast stirred into bread mix: there's a time of waiting and warming before the final product is ready for the next step. Another time Jesus tells His hearers that the Kingdom is like a jeweler, who sells everything else he has when he finds the perfect pearl.
There is a lot to absorb from these stories... does the thistle story help us understand why God doesn't deal directly with bad people right now? Does the small seed story mean that much of God's work in our world will come from unnoticed small starts, here and there? Maybe the yeast (leaven) example is God's way of reminding us that many good things require a time of maturing. The jewelry story may show us that when God found us lost and straying, He sold off His Greatest Prize, in order to buy us for Himself.
I can't help notice and be reminded of what professional landscapers have told me about some of our plants and shrubs, and believe that God has stories going on in my backyard! There are different and important times for pruning and dethatching some of our landscaping. Hydrangeas "bloom on old wood", so I know to leave some of those unsightly stalks standing. When trimming the beautiful OakLeaf Hydrangea, I was careful to remove only the dead bloom stems, for the new buds were evident, inches away!
Crepe Myrtles come in 100's of variations, and in our area they are seen trimmed in 100's of ways. I do it by hand, cutting back to certain joints. Some workers say liriope should be trimmed every January with a weedeater... others applaud my December method of running over it with the mower and bagger every few years!!
What is MOST interesting to me is: already, though our winter season has hardly begun at this writing, a number of both the ground vegetation, shrubs, and trees have already "set the buds" for the spring blooming. In other words, my metereological advisors are warning me that winter is ahead.... but God, Master Gardener, is telling me through my own backyard that HE IS PREPARING and PLANNING FOR SPRING!!! I find that a pretty positive approach, no matter what the economy or weather, and I think I'll adopt it as often as I can in my thinking...
Jesus often relates that the stories in Matthew are like the Kingdom. Looking over His parables in chapter 13, there are reports of farmers who have to wait to pull enemy-sown thistles until the final harvest. There is a story of a great tree, that comes from a quite small and unimpressive seed. Another parable says the Kingdom is like yeast stirred into bread mix: there's a time of waiting and warming before the final product is ready for the next step. Another time Jesus tells His hearers that the Kingdom is like a jeweler, who sells everything else he has when he finds the perfect pearl.
There is a lot to absorb from these stories... does the thistle story help us understand why God doesn't deal directly with bad people right now? Does the small seed story mean that much of God's work in our world will come from unnoticed small starts, here and there? Maybe the yeast (leaven) example is God's way of reminding us that many good things require a time of maturing. The jewelry story may show us that when God found us lost and straying, He sold off His Greatest Prize, in order to buy us for Himself.
I can't help notice and be reminded of what professional landscapers have told me about some of our plants and shrubs, and believe that God has stories going on in my backyard! There are different and important times for pruning and dethatching some of our landscaping. Hydrangeas "bloom on old wood", so I know to leave some of those unsightly stalks standing. When trimming the beautiful OakLeaf Hydrangea, I was careful to remove only the dead bloom stems, for the new buds were evident, inches away!
Crepe Myrtles come in 100's of variations, and in our area they are seen trimmed in 100's of ways. I do it by hand, cutting back to certain joints. Some workers say liriope should be trimmed every January with a weedeater... others applaud my December method of running over it with the mower and bagger every few years!!
What is MOST interesting to me is: already, though our winter season has hardly begun at this writing, a number of both the ground vegetation, shrubs, and trees have already "set the buds" for the spring blooming. In other words, my metereological advisors are warning me that winter is ahead.... but God, Master Gardener, is telling me through my own backyard that HE IS PREPARING and PLANNING FOR SPRING!!! I find that a pretty positive approach, no matter what the economy or weather, and I think I'll adopt it as often as I can in my thinking...
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