Wednesday, January 25, 2012
ScreamFree Marriage - Paperback!
ScreamFree Marriage has been available in hardback for some months now. I've enjoyed using the video program with my premarital coaching couples. All seem to find it helpful, and are always grateful for any problem prevention measures! One thing a soon-to-be married couple notices is that they can see how other married couples are interacting (or not) and ScreamFree has some answers and insight into those established relationships. Sometimes a partner has seen some patterns at home, or in larger family context, and KNOWS they want to learn new methods of "Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer". Now this quality product is available in paperback directly from ScreamFree. com. Follow this link to learn more about and purchase the newly titled The "self-centered" Marriage: http://www.screamfree.com/site/PageServer?pagename=sfm_landing_page
Friday, December 23, 2011
Genesis 37:15 "Between"
I woke early, my mind singing “In The Bleak Mid-Winter”… Gloucester Cathedral Choir - In the Bleak Midwinter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ
I love using this Genesis 37:15 verse (Amplified) with friends and my younger brothers; maybe their “must have” college class closed out, maybe their A became a C from the final, maybe mom/dad has said, “Grow Up, Get Out”, maybe 1/2 of 3 different jobs is still not enough. Genesis 37:15 is just an iReport from Canaan, zooming in on the life of one of Abraham’s great-grandchildren.
Joseph, on his first errand for father, had a misadventure. And there were more ahead: the bottom of the well, and the bottom of Egypt’s jail.
Yet he was headed to being the trusted household manager for Pharaoh’s head of Secret Service (Potiphar – that’s what his job was!). He was also headed toward being the 2nd most important leader of the largest civilized society of the time. He would show himself as being a veritable genius in both agriculture, logistics, and inventory control of the food supply in Egypt. A negotiator of peaceful internal and external affairs he became, engaged with serving millions of people.
So what was Joseph doing on this early assignment in life, depicted in the Amplified Version of Genesis 37:15? “… lost, wandering in the fields”. Doesn’t sound too fruitful, does it? (Perhaps the man who asked him a question was a Life Coach!)
Been there, I have. He was making absolutely NO progress, with all his useful, youthful energy and freedom and ability to travel in ANY direction.
Bottom of the well? Put there deliberately by those who would have Joseph gone forever, (and would lie to their own daddy about it.) Yes, still have my ticket stub somewhere from that ride!! Bottom of the jail? Put there by lies, deception, accusations that were as deliberate as they were untrue. I’ve visited there, truly have… if you haven’t yet, well, it’s coming!
So, if it seems like a “bleak mid-winter” time to you, maybe Joseph’s diary will give some comfort!!
I love using this Genesis 37:15 verse (Amplified) with friends and my younger brothers; maybe their “must have” college class closed out, maybe their A became a C from the final, maybe mom/dad has said, “Grow Up, Get Out”, maybe 1/2 of 3 different jobs is still not enough. Genesis 37:15 is just an iReport from Canaan, zooming in on the life of one of Abraham’s great-grandchildren.
Joseph, on his first errand for father, had a misadventure. And there were more ahead: the bottom of the well, and the bottom of Egypt’s jail.
Yet he was headed to being the trusted household manager for Pharaoh’s head of Secret Service (Potiphar – that’s what his job was!). He was also headed toward being the 2nd most important leader of the largest civilized society of the time. He would show himself as being a veritable genius in both agriculture, logistics, and inventory control of the food supply in Egypt. A negotiator of peaceful internal and external affairs he became, engaged with serving millions of people.
So what was Joseph doing on this early assignment in life, depicted in the Amplified Version of Genesis 37:15? “… lost, wandering in the fields”. Doesn’t sound too fruitful, does it? (Perhaps the man who asked him a question was a Life Coach!)
Been there, I have. He was making absolutely NO progress, with all his useful, youthful energy and freedom and ability to travel in ANY direction.
Bottom of the well? Put there deliberately by those who would have Joseph gone forever, (and would lie to their own daddy about it.) Yes, still have my ticket stub somewhere from that ride!! Bottom of the jail? Put there by lies, deception, accusations that were as deliberate as they were untrue. I’ve visited there, truly have… if you haven’t yet, well, it’s coming!
So, if it seems like a “bleak mid-winter” time to you, maybe Joseph’s diary will give some comfort!!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A Few More Minutes
Ephesians 3: 20-21. Recently saw picture of a "facebook server farm". One of many Huge facilities with Huge rooms Big as Walmart, Filled with racks of computers around the country that support Just Facebook. And I think: "Paul said HE had more capacity than this, and it is on call."
The first time I chaperoned a TBC youth trip to camp in 2003, I'd had years of poor life quality due to inner ear. Many family trips missed, many many events walked out of, many meals left at restaurants to sit in car, taking my meds, wearing my electronic wristband, waiting for family to finish and bring my box. Drive 8 hours to vacation Saturday, be able to leave the condo for lunch by Wednesday...
So I go because the Youth Minister has asked me to fill a sudden adult vacancy, and the girls say "It's the closest that camp will ever be." I drive behind the church bus that I cannot ride, have lunch at a mall food court (which is always a challenge) to an altitude that makes my heart drop. In the first worship service, the fear, nausea, moist eyes began. Out come pills, and electronic bracelet. I already knew where the nearest exits and stairways were (my first check of ANY building!) There were a dozen people to cross over in theater seats, and I'd be on the stairs... maybe I wouldn't throw up in this lovely building, in front of 800 students, 70 from TBC. Maybe I wouldn't have a panic attack, and collapse against a outdoor wall, trembling with sweat in the Georgia summer heat.
And HE SAID: "Can you trust me for just a few more minutes?" Hmmm "you know my history, my life, how warm this balcony is, with all this movement" And HE SAID: "a few more minutes?" Not for camp, not for today, or even the 3 hour session, just maybe 3 minutes. So I said "Yes", and started watching my second hand. I'd taken my pills, the wrist band was working so hard my hand was curling at every impulse; I'd done all I could do.
And I began to calm!! Like never before, in the midst of loud challenging music, a sea of motion- filled teens, and a light show beyond lightning, and I'm beginning to relax!! The symptoms are subsiding. In 5 minutes, we "renewed" our contract of "just a few more minutes". And the minutes continued, and He told me: "you do your part, and I'll do MINE".
Yes, I'd been through 8 years of specialist therapy, which I continue today. And sometimes, I don't know with certainty, what my part is... and He still says, "you do your part, then I'll do MINE".
Praying with you, for the next few minutes....
The first time I chaperoned a TBC youth trip to camp in 2003, I'd had years of poor life quality due to inner ear. Many family trips missed, many many events walked out of, many meals left at restaurants to sit in car, taking my meds, wearing my electronic wristband, waiting for family to finish and bring my box. Drive 8 hours to vacation Saturday, be able to leave the condo for lunch by Wednesday...
So I go because the Youth Minister has asked me to fill a sudden adult vacancy, and the girls say "It's the closest that camp will ever be." I drive behind the church bus that I cannot ride, have lunch at a mall food court (which is always a challenge) to an altitude that makes my heart drop. In the first worship service, the fear, nausea, moist eyes began. Out come pills, and electronic bracelet. I already knew where the nearest exits and stairways were (my first check of ANY building!) There were a dozen people to cross over in theater seats, and I'd be on the stairs... maybe I wouldn't throw up in this lovely building, in front of 800 students, 70 from TBC. Maybe I wouldn't have a panic attack, and collapse against a outdoor wall, trembling with sweat in the Georgia summer heat.
And HE SAID: "Can you trust me for just a few more minutes?" Hmmm "you know my history, my life, how warm this balcony is, with all this movement" And HE SAID: "a few more minutes?" Not for camp, not for today, or even the 3 hour session, just maybe 3 minutes. So I said "Yes", and started watching my second hand. I'd taken my pills, the wrist band was working so hard my hand was curling at every impulse; I'd done all I could do.
And I began to calm!! Like never before, in the midst of loud challenging music, a sea of motion- filled teens, and a light show beyond lightning, and I'm beginning to relax!! The symptoms are subsiding. In 5 minutes, we "renewed" our contract of "just a few more minutes". And the minutes continued, and He told me: "you do your part, and I'll do MINE".
Yes, I'd been through 8 years of specialist therapy, which I continue today. And sometimes, I don't know with certainty, what my part is... and He still says, "you do your part, then I'll do MINE".
Praying with you, for the next few minutes....
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Aubert Rose Quotes
Rev. Aubert V. Rose, Jr. said a number of things that have stuck with me, and that I've quoted from time to time. In my college days, he was associate Pastor to Dr. Charles Stanley at First Baptist, Atlanta. But he had grown up in Kentucky, with a lot of agricultural experience!
"Some stumps you pull up, and some stumps you plow around." I understood that from farm life... it can take a while for a tree stump to be rotted enough to pull up. But the application can be to an organization, or a co-worker, where it would just be too much trouble to deal with that issue or their stubborness, right now. Maybe next year, try it again.
"I feed in many pastures, but I give my own milk" .. back on the farm we had several pastures for the dairy cows, and you surely didn't want them getting into an onion patch or bitterweed!!! He used it in a sense of studying different commentaries and listening to different speakers, but his messages were from his own and the Lord's inspiration.
"Sometimes you have to get things spinning so fast in the Baptist Church that you'll sling some of them off." This means that some folks weren't ever going to be positively helpful, or might not ever bear spiritual fruit. Someday they'll just have to move elsewhere to ever be happy.
"Unfortunately, the Baptist church is too often in the red flannel long-handle underwear business, and ain't nobody placing any orders anymore!!" I took that to mean we could be irrelevant if we didn't watch out. In the church, or any organization, we can major on minors, and in so doing, be left behind.
There are cautions here, for sure. Better to use these for self-examination, that to use them for disregarding a brother in the faith!
"Some stumps you pull up, and some stumps you plow around." I understood that from farm life... it can take a while for a tree stump to be rotted enough to pull up. But the application can be to an organization, or a co-worker, where it would just be too much trouble to deal with that issue or their stubborness, right now. Maybe next year, try it again.
"I feed in many pastures, but I give my own milk" .. back on the farm we had several pastures for the dairy cows, and you surely didn't want them getting into an onion patch or bitterweed!!! He used it in a sense of studying different commentaries and listening to different speakers, but his messages were from his own and the Lord's inspiration.
"Sometimes you have to get things spinning so fast in the Baptist Church that you'll sling some of them off." This means that some folks weren't ever going to be positively helpful, or might not ever bear spiritual fruit. Someday they'll just have to move elsewhere to ever be happy.
"Unfortunately, the Baptist church is too often in the red flannel long-handle underwear business, and ain't nobody placing any orders anymore!!" I took that to mean we could be irrelevant if we didn't watch out. In the church, or any organization, we can major on minors, and in so doing, be left behind.
There are cautions here, for sure. Better to use these for self-examination, that to use them for disregarding a brother in the faith!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Granite Gray, Marble White
(In remembrance of fallen servicemen)
The setting is a national cemetery, or the military section of any cemetery,
with the rows of identical crosses or stones; and how they arrived there,
for a lifelong faithful duty, for those whose faithful duty is over.
The Most Difficult Poem I Ever Wrote:
Rows and rows of faithful soldiers, keeping watch until the dawn
Over the beds of finest men and women, that ever nation spawned.
Whence came these quiet soldiers, with steady, unwavering gaze,
Who watch o’er their beloved, through dimming evening haze?
From the bowels of earth and mountainside, from edges of earth’s crust,
The drill, blast, scoop, have yielded them from out a cloud of dust.
Unknown to fellow travelers who journeyed their same road,
With similar wheels and engines to bear their heavy load,
They came! To this green carpet, for years to solemn stand,
To mark the final resting of the choicest of the land.
And now, in ceaseless vigil, with crest of morning dew,
They serve their fallen comrade; and mark a spot beneath the blue.
Both here by accuracy of man, machine, and blast of power,
From that great noise and energy, to this quiet, solemn bower.
One from dark earth to sun, the other from sun to dark earth.
The end of one’s tumultuous watch became the other’s birth.
Yet, we would have it different now, and trade one for the other,
And have again in loving arms: dad, mom, sister, son, or brother.
But no reply from partners, still. No matter loud the tears,
No response from either soldier, in this or other years.
Naught! But quiet example, of service, brave and true.
Their steady gaze and forward press, their gift to me and you.
If one reflects on what they say, with voices now unheard,
They speak their timeless message still, without an uttered word.
In appreciation of the soldiers’ gift to us, which was with great loss to their families.
© Tom B. Bandy
4/23/03 – 4/30/04
The setting is a national cemetery, or the military section of any cemetery,
with the rows of identical crosses or stones; and how they arrived there,
for a lifelong faithful duty, for those whose faithful duty is over.
The Most Difficult Poem I Ever Wrote:
Rows and rows of faithful soldiers, keeping watch until the dawn
Over the beds of finest men and women, that ever nation spawned.
Whence came these quiet soldiers, with steady, unwavering gaze,
Who watch o’er their beloved, through dimming evening haze?
From the bowels of earth and mountainside, from edges of earth’s crust,
The drill, blast, scoop, have yielded them from out a cloud of dust.
Unknown to fellow travelers who journeyed their same road,
With similar wheels and engines to bear their heavy load,
They came! To this green carpet, for years to solemn stand,
To mark the final resting of the choicest of the land.
And now, in ceaseless vigil, with crest of morning dew,
They serve their fallen comrade; and mark a spot beneath the blue.
Both here by accuracy of man, machine, and blast of power,
From that great noise and energy, to this quiet, solemn bower.
One from dark earth to sun, the other from sun to dark earth.
The end of one’s tumultuous watch became the other’s birth.
Yet, we would have it different now, and trade one for the other,
And have again in loving arms: dad, mom, sister, son, or brother.
But no reply from partners, still. No matter loud the tears,
No response from either soldier, in this or other years.
Naught! But quiet example, of service, brave and true.
Their steady gaze and forward press, their gift to me and you.
If one reflects on what they say, with voices now unheard,
They speak their timeless message still, without an uttered word.
In appreciation of the soldiers’ gift to us, which was with great loss to their families.
© Tom B. Bandy
4/23/03 – 4/30/04
Friday, April 30, 2010
Reading Deuteronomy
One of my favorite Old Testament books is Deuteronomy. It seems that God does lots of talking to and through Moses in this book. After I first became a Christian in college, I walked to downtown Atlanta to buy a New American Standard Bible "just like my roommate had". I'd found it readable and understandable (especially compared to some of my GA Tech calculus and chemistry books!!)
There are many things in my NASB that are yellow high-lighted from those early years of Bible reading, verses that are still encouraging to me today. Deut. 3:22 says: "Do not fear them, for the Lord you God is the one fighting for you." I like to know I'm not alone in the tasks I'm given... as a matter of fact, I'm just the helper!
Deut. 4:7 reminded the children of Israel: "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the lord our God whenever we call on Him?" That's a great country to have your citizenship invested!
The 4th chapter continues with some great reminders: "you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart..." "He will not fail you..." "To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God..." "there is no other besides Him."
It is important to remember that when Jesus and the early apostles quoted Scripture, they were always referencing the Old Testament, which they had learned well. It certainly is an encouragement to me!!
There are many things in my NASB that are yellow high-lighted from those early years of Bible reading, verses that are still encouraging to me today. Deut. 3:22 says: "Do not fear them, for the Lord you God is the one fighting for you." I like to know I'm not alone in the tasks I'm given... as a matter of fact, I'm just the helper!
Deut. 4:7 reminded the children of Israel: "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the lord our God whenever we call on Him?" That's a great country to have your citizenship invested!
The 4th chapter continues with some great reminders: "you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart..." "He will not fail you..." "To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God..." "there is no other besides Him."
It is important to remember that when Jesus and the early apostles quoted Scripture, they were always referencing the Old Testament, which they had learned well. It certainly is an encouragement to me!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Ben McNeal - Finished Well
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
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otSkYHMSbrE
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