Making Life Work

Christians...who needs 'em?

2009-05-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

I had a chance this week to see once again how Christians are sometimes the worst salesmen for Christianity. Right now some of you are saying...finally, a Christian who admitted it. Whew.

I say, so what? People are screwed up sometimes. It doesn't mean you're justified in turning away from God because of it. What do I mean? I mean I've heard so many times "I don't go to church (or switched denominations) because when I used to attend there was this (person, priest, teacher etc.) who acted like a hypocrite (or said something mean, or that I didn't like...), so I don't go there anymore. That makes sense, they're a hypocrite so you damage your relationship with God. Go figure.

Once I was whining to my spiritual advisor how I'd been wronged by an authority figure in my church. An action which was going to cost me several thousand dollars. After a pause in my complaining , they said "so how fairly do you think Jesus was treated?". I shut up...then went to the same church Sunday morning.

Grow where you are planted. That's the path to a fulfilling life.

Peace

Happiness

2009-05-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

So often people search for happiness by chasing things they think will make them happy. It doesn't work. We receive happiness when we do the things which create the life we want. Take someone in a bad relationship. They choose to look for "happiness" outside the relationship. It doesn't work, because the same things which caused relationship #1 to fail will repeat themselves in #2. Guarenteed.

When they say they want "happiness", what they mean is they want a fulfilling relationship. So they should work on having a fulfilling relationship...with #1. The same stuff needs to be worked through. Save the pain of a divorce, work on what you got. Then you'll have happiness. Really.

Going Up Hills

2009-05-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

I took my bike on a trip to the library today. It is about 12 miles each way several looooong hills. Like a mile or so. As I was riding my mind was wandering about all sorts of things. Occassionally I'd downshift or stand for a bit, but mainly just enjoyed pedaling. I've been riding a lot over the past couple of years and a rule I wrote about on a previous post is that I don't stop going up hills. I also bought a single speed I call "tank" which has caused me to get much stronger. Once I arraived at my destination, I realized a year ago I would have been sucking wind on the same ride, not looking forward to the ride back.

Then I got to thinking the challenges we face in life work the same way. As we face them and make a decision to not quit, they eventually become easier. That's a Good philosophy. Commmit to working through the problems and you become good at overcoming them. Keep it up.

Doin' the next right thing

2009-04-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

I didn't work today. I had my to do list and got about half done. Some easy, some not so easy.

I'm reading the Andy Stanley book I used for some of the last few posts and realize the road I've travelled has brought me to where I am. Sounds simple I know, but I don't want to be where I am right now. I want to be fully employed in a job which gives me a sense of fulfillment. I'm not. But the secret isn't to do things which will make me feel good. It is to do the things which will take me where I want to go whether I want to do them at the moment or not, which will cause me to be fulfilled. To do that I just need to do the next right thing in front of me.

Peace

How Would Jesus Add Value to My Life? 4

2009-04-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

How would Jesus add value to my life?

Jesus produces hope- Hope is defined as expecting with confidence, or being optimistic. Most people tie hopefulness to security about the future. Jesus produces hope through providing true security. Real security is not in knowing the future. It comes through placing your life in the hands of Jesus, who holds the future. He is described in scripture as our “blessed hope”! The hope produced by Christ begins in this life and continues forever, “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have Him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!” (1 Peter 1:3-5, The Message).

from findithere.com/answers

How Would Jesus Add Vlue to My Life? 3

2009-04-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

How Would Jesus Add Value to My Life?

Jesus provides purpose- Purpose in the most general sense is the anticipated result which guides action. It is often used as a synonym for goal or objective. When most people long for “purpose in life”, they are looking for something that will bring meaning and deep, long - term satisfaction to their lives. Jesus is described this way in scripture, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created…all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:15-16, New Revised Standard). You were part of His purposeful creation. True meaning and purpose comes as you do what He created you to do. Jesus lived with the same purpose. He said at the end of His life, “I glorified you on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do” (John 17:4, The Message).

from findithere.com/answers

How Would Jesus Add Value to My Life? 2

2009-04-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

How Would Jesus Add Value to My Life?

Jesus provides peace- Peace is a term that most commonly refers to an absence of aggression, violence or hostility. Also, it represents healthy or newly-healed relationships with others. Finally, peace can describe an individual's sense of himself or herself, such as being "at peace". Interestingly, the Bible refers to Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Through Christ one can find forgiveness. “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 4:25-5:1, New Living Translation). Forgiveness provides peace with God, peace with others, and ourselves.

from findithere.com/answers

How Would Jesus Add Value to My Life? 1

2009-04-23T05:19:00.000-07:00

How would Jesus add value to my life?

Jesus gives life—Only Jesus can provide real life in the present, and in the future eternal life in heaven! In fact He said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10, New Living Translation). The life Jesus gives begins with a meaningful life now; the Bible says, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jer. 29:11, The Message). Here is the best part - the life just described gets better in eternity!

from findithere.com/answers

Where you are...11

2009-04-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Deal with disappointment.

Unfortunately, some destinations are unreachable because dreams won’t come true. If you find that you can’t get to the place you’d like to be, don’t despair or try to make something happen anyway, since that won’t lead you any closer to your desired destination. Instead, go ahead and mourn the loss of your dream. Then place your trust in God. Tell God that you want His will for your life rather than your own. Keep believing and keep following in the direction that God leads, which, even though you may not have chosen it, will ultimately lead you to the right destination.

Where you are...10

2009-04-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

Pay attention.

Whatever you give your attention to influences the direction of your life. So consider whether or not you’re giving your attention to the right people and situations. Is there something that’s distracting you by drawing your attention away from what matters most? Who or what do you need to start paying more attention to, instead of making excuses: your kids, your health, your spiritual growth, your savings account? Ask God to reveal what your priorities should be and to give you the strength you need to discipline yourself to keep those priorities in mind when making daily decisions. Pause before devoting your attention to anyone or anything; pray about your decision first. Then be sure to give your full attention to whoever and whatever deserves it most.

Where you are...9

2009-04-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

Tap into the wisdom of others.

You have certain limits to your own personal experiences and knowledge, but you can always learn something valuable from others. No one ever gets to the place where he or she no longer needs wise counsel. So find people you trust and admire – those who are good influences on your life. Who has the kind of marriage you’d like? Who seems to have done a good job of managing money? Who has a family life you’d like to enjoy yourself? Ask people for their advice, and heed it.

Where you are...8

2009-04-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

Consider the story your life will tell.

What kind of legacy will you leave after you die? When people look back at your life, will it tell them a story you’re proud of, or one that you regret? As you face every decision, keep in mind that you can never accomplish God’s will by breaking His law, violating His principles, or ignoring His wisdom. Ask yourself whether or not God has already spoken on the matter you’re considering by searching the Scriptures about it. To figure out if the options you’re considering violate one of God’s principles, ask yourself: “What outcome am I expecting from this decision?” and “Does the option I’m considering now naturally lead to that outcome?”

Where you are...7

2009-04-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Submit to the One who knows where each path leads.

The key to finding the right path isn’t information; it’s submission to God, who sees the whole picture and knows what’s best for you. When considering options, trust God rather than your own understanding. When conventional wisdom conflicts with biblical truth, choose what the Bible has to say. When your emotions conflict with God’s law, harness your emotions and lean into God’s law. Acknowledge the limitations of your own knowledge, as well as the fact that God knows everything. When you wrestle with submitting all your decisions fully to God, ask yourself: “Why do I hesitate to give God full access to every part of my life?”, “What do I fear will happen on the other side of that decision?”, and “What is the most difficult area of my life to yield control?”

Where you are...6

2009-04-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

Tell yourself the truth.

Simply following your heart is dangerous when making decisions, because your heart can’t be trusted. In this fallen world, you’ll always have the ability to lie to yourself, act on those lies, and defend the lies with excuses. Come clean with yourself about the uncomfortable truth behind your choices so you’ll be free to move from where you are to where you want to be. What’s the real reason you moved in with your boyfriend or girlfriend, filed for divorce, ran up credit card debt, drink so much alcohol, quit going to church, etc.? Keep your heart in check. Ask yourself: “Why am I doing this, really?”, “If someone in my circumstances came to me for advice, what course of action would I recommend?” and “In light of my past experience, and my future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing to do?”

Where you are...5

2009-04-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

Choose specific paths with specific destinations in mind.

Since today and tomorrow are connected, look as far down the road as possible when making decisions. Ask yourself: “In light of my past experience, and my future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing to do?” Pray for God to help you see trouble coming before it arrives, the wisdom to know what to do when you see warning signs, and the courage to do it so you won’t have regrets later.

Where you are...4

2009-04-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

Make connections. You need to connect your desires with your direction in life. Ask yourself: “Are there disconnects in my life?”, “Are there discrepancies between what I desire in my heart and what I’m doing with my life?”, and “Is there alignment between my intentions and my direction?”.

Where you are ...3

2009-04-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

Identify the paths you’ve chosen so far. What decisions have you made that over time have led you to either right or wrong paths? When have you followed paths that have headed in the right direction for you to fulfill your values, goals, dreams, or commitments? When have you followed paths that led away from what’s most important and taken you to places that you didn’t want to go?

Where you are...2

2009-04-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

Learn the principle of the path. The principle of the path says: "Direction – not intention – determines our destination." You’ll win or lose at life by the paths you choose, and each daily decision you make points you in a certain direction.

Where you are....

2009-04-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

The following is a report on the practical applications of Andy Stanley's new book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, (Thomas Nelson, 2008).
Whether it’s a struggling marriage, a mountain of debt, or a dead-end job, you never meant to be where you find yourself now. You had the best of intentions. So how did you end up in such a mess?
Decision by decision, you followed a certain path that ultimately led to your current destination. But the good news is that if you don’t like where you’ve ended up, you can change direction to start heading toward where you want to be.
Here’s how you can get from where you are to where you want to be:

The next 10 posts are from the same source. (Taken from Crosswalk.com written by Whitney Hopler Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer)

Find It Here

2009-04-16T17:10:00.000-07:00

I found this website and thought the videos are interesting.

http://www.findithere.com/answers.php

They give a Southern Baptist slant. Neither positive or negative, just an observation.

Insight 7: Help Others

2009-04-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

INSIGHT SEVEN

…Help Others

This insight is focused on gratitude, not necessarily as a feeling, but as a course of action. When we look back and remember our various trials and tribulations, it is easy to forget how many problems are now behind us. While some of us might have lost a little and others might have lost a great deal, we all share one thing in common: we walked the gauntlet and came out the other side. We survived – and we should be very grateful for it. By maintaining a true sense of gratitude, it reminds us how precarious our situation really is; which compels us to ask: How do we keep this feeling of gratitude, not only in our heads, but also in our hearts? Ironically, the answer is contained in one of life’s most confusing paradoxes: “We must give it away so we may keep it.”
It sounds encouraging when we inform everyone we are eternally grateful about the peace we have found in this new life; but do we really practice gratitude? Are we willing to go out of our way to help someone who is going through a rough patch in their lives? Do we continue meeting with our various support groups, passing on our experiences to others? The individual questions are endless, but the real meaning behind all of them can be summarily understood by asking one simple question: Is gratitude an action word for us?
Besides working closely with others, there is a second aspect to understanding gratitude as a course of action. If we are truly grateful to God and others for our new life; we owe it to both, to live this new life in a manner, which provides an example to others. This does not mean we let pride deceive us into thinking we are better than anyone else; on the contrary, it means we should embrace humility as our cornerstone, as we strive to build character in our life. This is truly gratitude in action. When others can see how we were able to overcome our problems, it provides them the opportunity to seize a little hope. This is the same hope we so desperately needed in the beginning.
By keeping gratitude at the core of our thoughts and actions, we not only provide support for others; but we also make it more difficult to slip back into old behaviors. Our lives are no longer built on a foundation of isolation and self-centeredness; instead, we are able to experience, both in good times and during rough periods, the true contentment, which is only possible when God and others are an integral part of it.

Insight 6: Come Closer

2009-04-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

INSIGHT SIX

… Get Closer To God

As we experience the ongoing challenges of daily life, we need to be continually vigilant in examining our thoughts and actions. This includes both positive and negative thoughts and actions. For example: Where have we been able to exhibit a simple act of kindness while helping another person? Do we still have a tendency to blame others when things are not going our way? Do we find ourselves slipping back into old behaviors? When we are in the wrong, are we willing to accept responsibility for our actions, which includes making all necessary amends? We need to ask ourselves these and other questions on a daily basis, to maintain healthy balance in our lives.
We also need to re-visit the first two insights, reminding ourselves daily, that we cannot live life on our own. We still need the benefits of fellowship, which played such a vital role in our initial resurgence. We need to continue sharing about our issues, so they do not become major problems. More importantly, we need a conscious connection to God. While most of us will turn to God in the middle of an emotional crisis, the proof of our sincerity is our connection to God when good times return.
Someone’s personal connection to God is a private matter. We all experience God in many different ways. Many experience God through public church services, enjoying the many social benefits of a large community; some prefer small prayer or bible study groups; still others are more inclined to private prayer and contemplation. The way we individually choose to experience God is not as important as the quality of our experiences.
Regardless of our individual choices, it is critical that we make a spiritual connection to God with more than just our heads; we need to be connected through our hearts. We need to experience the way God is able to touch our hearts; which more often than not, comes through interactions with other people. We need to remember the rough times; when God, working through the actions of others, was able to interject peace and serenity back into our lives. We will never be able to find any enduring spiritual connection with God on our own. We have to want it, and then be willing to look for it!

Insight 5: Peace of Mind

2009-04-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

INSIGHT FIVE

…Peace of Mind

The objective of this insight is to help us in our relationships with other people. Before we can completely experience the enduring rewards of this program, we first need to make sure we are able to enjoy the benefits of a clear conscience. If we desire to free ourselves from the ghosts of our past, we must be completely willing to offer amends where we have done harm to others, and conversely, to forgive others when harm has been done to us. In either case, we must never inflict additional harm on others.
Before we actually move forward in trying to repair any of our relationships, we should be certain we are approaching our amends with the assistance of a positive attitude. Until we achieve some consistent level of balance in our own life, making amends or offering forgiveness to anyone would be a meaningless gesture. After making so many changes to our old way of thinking, many of us are inclined to question the necessity of opening up old wounds. Why is it so important to offer amends and forgiveness to others? The answer is not contained in any specific act of repentance or forgiveness, but in the validity of our motives. As Scripture reminds us, “Do not be afraid.” We must never be unwilling to take action when we know in our hearts it is the right action. If we postpone or avoid our amends, either out of fear or pride, we run the risk of reverting to our old way of thinking, which was at the root of our problems. This insight is the first real test in our never-ending struggle between doing what we know should be done versus what we would prefer to do. If we hope to reap the benefits of a clear conscience, we need to take responsibility for our own actions, even in those situations where we believe harm has been done to us.
Once we begin to feel comfortable with ourselves, we need to meet with a trusted confidant before offering amends or forgiveness to anyone. The reason is simple: we could actually do more harm than good. In certain situations, for example, we might inadvertently destroy entire family relationships, simply by making amends for transgressions unknown to another family member. There are innumerable similar examples; but suffice it to say, we should always consult with someone before moving forward with our amends. Our goal should not be simply to say, “I’m Sorry” or “I forgive you.” Our goal is to realize that our actions have consequences, and until we are ready to stand up and take responsibility for our actions, we will never be able to enjoy true peace of mind.

Insight 4: Humility

2009-04-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

INSIGHT FOUR

…Humility

After a thorough examination of our conscience, we have hopefully achieved a little better understanding of who we are as individuals. We become aware of our positive talents, yet keenly sensitive to our own limitations. We also have been given the chance to focus on our shortcomings, understanding how and why these shortcomings have created difficulties, not only for us, but also for the people around us. The critical question, which we must currently answer ourselves, is: What do we intend to do about it? We have a choice! We can either stubbornly cling to old instinctual behaviors, which usually established complete personal satisfaction as the primary goal; or we can humbly change our entire way of thinking, which ultimately will allow us to experience a new sense of balance and harmony in our lives.
This new perspective gives us the opportunity to appreciate both the good times and the rough periods of everyday life. It is no longer necessary for our thoughts and actions to be driven by elements of fear and pride. While recognizing we are still imperfect creatures living in an imperfect world, we make a decision to live with humility as our guide. In the same way that Christ was willing to humble himself by becoming a man, so must we be willing to humble ourselves before we can discover any true sense of personal contentment. Life’s challenges are very real, but humility allows us to recognize we are not alone in the world. There will be times when we need the assistance of others; but there will also be situations when we are freely able to participate in acts of kindness and compassion towards others. We all need to depend on one other.
Our ability to display humility is not the same as humiliation. Humility is a choice which does not suggest thinking less of ourselves; it suggests we stop thinking only of ourselves. Humility is quiet confidence, intertwined throughout our intentions, thoughts, and actions. It allows us to be grateful for our many God given talents, using them in a manner that benefits, not only us, but everyone around us. It also allows us to recognize immediately our shortcomings, which often have a tendency to re-appear on a daily basis. If we are truly committed to changing our attitudes and actions, we need to be vigilant in recognizing when elements of fear and pride creep back into our consciousness. The simple adage, “The world should be a better place because someone has lived.” should always be remembered; as we set forth on a new journey to experience a new way of life.

Insight 3: Take A Look

2009-04-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

INSIGHT THREE

…Look At Ourselves.

The underlying objective of this insight is “Honesty.” We need to be completely honest with ourselves about ourselves. This might be the most difficult thing many of us have ever done; however, it might be the most important things we will ever accomplish. Until this point, we have been willing to accept the nature of some of our problems. We have also started to see how God, working through the community of other people, might be able to bring some relief into our lives. The first two insights will only take us so far. We need to get to the root of our own problems.
Some might believe this is the point where we start to focus on fixing specific problems. They would be mistaken. This is the point where we start to focus on “Ourselves.” If we are truly interested in finding any contentment in life, we first have to understand ourselves before we can have any real hope of solving our problems. We can only accomplish this if we are willing to evaluate honestly our intentions and actions. We have to begin to understand the reasons we think and act in certain ways. We have to get to the core of our consciousness. We have to draw out and understand some of our deep-rooted perceptions, which have been directing our lives from behind the curtain.
This insight requires the assistance of a trustworthy confidant. Someone, who both understands our problems and with whom, we can comfortably share some of our innermost thoughts and feelings. We have to be willing to examine our moral and ethical behaviors from the time we were young, to see certain patterns of behavior. We have to understand how the combination of fear and pride, residing deep within us, has created resentments towards other people. We have to determine how we have acted selfishly to the detriment of others. We have to understand how the resentments we have carried with us for years have been creating havoc in our lives and in the lives of others. We have to get to know ourselves.
Initially, this appears to be an overwhelming proposal. Who really wants to uncover anything about themselves which might bring up unpleasant memories? Who wants to subject themselves to potential criticism, even with a trusted confidant? This is exactly what we need to accomplish. We have to be rigorously honest with God and ourselves, in addressing why certain elements of fear and pride, have been roadblocks in our efforts to achieve any sense of balance in our lives. We need to know ourselves, before we can actually “BE” ourselves.

Insight 2: Reclaim Hope

2009-04-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

INSIGHT TWO

…Reclaim Hope

The primary goal of this insight is to encourage Hope. Without the benefit of hope, we are left with nothing but despair. This is where the value of, shared common experiences, becomes abundantly clear. It is only by joining with others, listening to experiences so eerily identical to our own, that we begin to see glimmers of hope. As we listen to solutions instead of just problems, we see and feel a little more hope. When people explain how a spiritual connection to God was one essential factor in helping them change their lives, we now start to question ourselves: “Maybe – just maybe, there might be some hope for me!”
If hope is the primary goal of the second insight, then Trust is the means by which we will be able to achieve this goal. Trust requires action on our part, before we are able to experience any feelings of hope. Everyone wants to experience hope; but how many of us are willing to take a chance and place our trust in something? While many of us will freely assert we believe in a God, are we willing to place our trust in the power of God? Other than ourselves, are we really willing to place our trust in anyone? We have to answer these questions in the quiet confines of our own conscience; but it is easier to incorporate trust into our lives, if we can first see some initial glimmers of hope.
What does it mean to place our trust in God? It is almost impossible for human beings to place their trust in anyone or anything unknown to them. When we started sharing our problems with the group, did we really trust them? An honest answer would probably be: “No, primarily because we did not know them!” As we started to become acquainted with them, however, we began to trust them. We started to feel comfortable their intentions were genuine. It works the same way with placing trust in our understanding of God. Before we are able to place our trust in him, we need to get to know him.
Before we can develop a better understanding of how the power of God can work in our lives, we need to discover how God has been able to change the lives of other people. When we experience how faith in God shines some light on the thoughts and actions of others, we then begin to feel comfortable placing our trust in God. This process does not happen overnight. We need to remember that hope with the help of a little trust, opens the door for us to experience the “Presence of God.”

Insight 1: We Aren't Perfect

2009-04-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

INSIGHT ONE

…Admit We Are Not Perfect

This is our initial insight into handling some of life’s major challenges. We must become willing to surrender to one simple fact: We are imperfect human beings. We all experience similar challenges and difficulties. Sometimes, we do not have all the answers. Before we can admit something is a problem for us, especially something which is controlling our thoughts and actions, we have to be willing to acknowledge the existence of a problem. Often, we stubbornly maintain we are able to manage our difficulties, even after our families and friends have tried to convince us otherwise. Who wants to hear their lives are unmanageable? Who enjoys surrendering anything? Who wants to admit weakness in any area of their life? The simple answer: None of us. Before we can actually find any solutions however, we first have to be willing to surrender, to ourselves and to others, whatever is causing our lives to become unmanageable.
Admit a little unmanageability – maybe! Surrender – No way! This is our first reaction to the word surrender. One definition of surrender is: “…an act of relinquishing control or possession to somebody or something.” The actual word presents many of us with a dilemma. We equate the word surrender with negative phrases like giving up or being defeated. For one’s country, the act of surrender has very negative implications; however, the word also has a very positive connotation when understood in a different context. In certain situations, we have the choice to surrender something which has been dragging us down, such as an addiction, compulsion, or some unshakable fear--just to name a few. In this context, the word surrender needs to be understood as: “an acceptance,” “a relief,” or “a new freedom.”
Once we become willing to understand surrender in this context, it does not mean our specific issues or problems will miraculously disappear. On the contrary, we still have to face them; however, by identifying and accepting them, we finally allow ourselves to give up the pain associated with them. We are willing to admit these issues or problems have caused our lives to become unmanageable. We want to do something about them! Generally, it is impossible to arrive at this level of acceptance on our own. We need the support of people who have experienced similar problems. We need to hear the solutions others have used to introduce manageability back into their lives. More importantly, we need to realize: “We are not alone.”

Making Life Work

2009-04-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

Over the next week I will be posting what we call our "lobby brochure". Because the format is longer , so will be the posts. If this resonates let me know. Thanks to Mike Brennan for help with the writing.

INTRODUCTION

“Making Life Work”…These words describe a program that starts us on a journey to experience a “New Way of Living.” The primary goal of this program is to guide us in our efforts to embrace the joys of Christian living, while also supporting us in coping with the realities of daily life. By using a combination of the Bible, various other materials, and the “shared common experiences” of community, we begin the process of better understanding ourselves, our relationship with God, and our relationships with our neighbors. Who among us would honestly admit the following: “Life is always perfect,” or “I never have any problems?” As human beings, we all experience a variety of problems; but many of us also share one common dream: the ability to experience “Peace of Mind.”
“Making Life Work” is not a quick solution to all our daily problems. It requires a sincere commitment to honesty, willingness, and open-mindedness. It allows us to develop a plan for living that is focused around the following principles:

We come to accept the realities of our past by developing an honest appraisal of ourselves.

We come to understand that we are not alone on this road of life. We begin to experience the presence of God, through the love and compassion of our community.

We come to appreciate the joys of Christian living that are available to us, both in good times and during rough times; if we are willing to commit ourselves to an open-minded program of “sharing” and “action.”

“Making Life Work” provides us the opportunity to look at our individual circumstances and honestly ask ourselves: “Why have I been trying to solve all life’s problems on my own?”Most of us have attempted to manage the realities of life, solely by relying on our own self-will. We have insistently depended on ourselves in searching for solutions to every problem, believing that self-knowledge and self-determination was our only alternative. Usually, this approach was self-defeating. Over the course of our lives, all of us have experienced confusing issues and difficult challenges, which sometimes have progressed into terrible problems. It is not the mere existence of a problem that creates havoc in our lives; it is our reactions to them. The easiest thing for others to see is also the hardest thing for us to admit: sometimes, we allow our problems to drown us in a sea of unmanageability.
In many situations, there are underlying issues hiding deep below the surface which we are unwilling to address; however, it is the escape mechanisms that we employ (alcohol, drugs, food, sex, anger, lying, infidelity, abuse, etc, etc…) that usually trigger the first signs of unmanageability. Even when our lives are in the midst of complete downward spirals, we still keep trying to convince, not only ourselves, but also our families, friends, co-workers, etc., that our actions are justified by saying to everyone: “My situation is different. If you had my problems you would “fill in the blank” too!”
“Making Life Work” is a program for everyone. We might consider the following passage from scripture: “Do not be afraid!” (Luke 1:30… Matthew 1:20) This phrase should be our call to action. We will never solve any of our problems by ignoring them, hoping that God will miraculously make them disappear. Life continues to present us with challenges and problems. We need to be honest, willing, and open-minded in addressing the underlying fears that are at the root of our problems; along with the pride that prevents us from reaching out to others for assistance. The ability to experience a better way of living on a daily basis is within our reach. The only requirement for travelling on this journey is a genuine desire to discover true Peace of Mind.
The following “Insights” provide the framework that we employ on this journey.

Can't Do It Alone

2009-04-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

I was having breakfast with a friend the other day and asked him the secret to his success. He said "I always create projects that are too big to complete alone so I have to ask other peoples' help, then I make sure they get the credit".
Good Advice.

Be Joseph

2009-03-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

Whenever things are going a little rough I like to think about Joseph. You know, the technicolor coat and all that. He knew he was destined for a purpose by God and never faltered. He did the right thing even when it cost him, and persevered to success finally becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt. Even then it was not all bright.

Remember his boss was a tough guy to work for. He impaled the baker on the stake and the cup bearer was so afraid of Pharoah he wouldn't mention Joseph even though he'd promised. Life is like that sometimes. Keep focused and keep moving.

Peace

It's Working!

2009-03-18T04:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a year since we began Making Life Work! Congratulations to Cheryl, Jim and Mary K. who have made it happen. You guys are the best!

I am thrilled that the concept is working allowing people to let God make a significant effect in their lives. I look forward to carrying the message to other churches in the coming months.

Denial

2009-03-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

A week ago I received the news I'm getting laid off from my job. I was ticked. You see it didn't have to happen, but that's another story. You know what, that's life. I have a little money in the bank. People are sending me leads. Soon I will see what assignment God has in store.

My friend says these things are "high class problems".

Life is good.

Broken

2009-03-12T04:32:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of looking at churches recently and something I've discovered about all of them...is that they're broken. Go figure, a group of broken people getting together for a singular purpose still creates a broken organization. Shows that we need to rely on God.

Peace

Boys to Men...or not

2009-03-08T04:27:00.000-07:00

I was at a Catholic Men's spirituality conference this weekend and got some cd's from this guy's ministry. Here is a post from his blog. His name is Father Chavez.

"Given my pastoral experience, the problems or struggles a man faces in any of these latter stages usually points back to an issue in childhood; that is, to a gap or wound in sonship. Thus, to revive or heal the son in every man is to strengthen him in each successive identity. It is easy to imagine that a wounded son is going to make a wounded man and father. And so to face one’s journey of sonship, to accept it, to put it on the path to healing, and to lift it up to God, will make any man a better man, father, husband, brother, etc."

FIREPROOF

2009-02-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

I've never been a big Kirk Cameron fan. While I respected that he was a Christian and trying to promote it, I always thought he was kind of geeky. After hearing positive reviews from several places my wife wanted to see his latest movie FIREPROOF. Last night we rented it.

He hit this one OUT OF THE PARK. Really. This movie reflects the trials many marriages today face and demonstrates what it means not to quit even in the face of hopelessness. If you are, have been, are going to be or are the child of people who were at one time married, GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

Peace.

It's been a while....

2009-01-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Gosh it's been a while since I posted! Long story. I won't bore you with details, particularly because no one will be reading this after 7 months of inactivity! Long and short, there were some things in my life which weren't working and I took some action to correct the situation. Feelin' much better now. I hope to post more regularly, and hopefully interesting enough stuff so people want to read.

See ya back soon.

Nice Guys...But Lost

2008-07-13T06:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was doing a "hill day". My ride last week motivated me to get out and fry myself by just riding every big hill I could find. At the top of the last one there were 2 guys with bikes by the side of the road who called out asking for help. We were in a neighborhood formed by a loop with several criss-crossing roads which once in, was difficult to leave unless you knew the way. I told them to come with me and I'd show them the way. As we rode I saw they had higher end bikes and equipment. They were good conversationalists and were grateful I was able to show them the way to get home relating how they never would have found the way. They were nice guys.

As we parted I realized how much these guys are like the average person in my area. They're nice people. Tend to have good incomes and nice homes. Even pleasant to speak to. But they're also hopelessly lost. As a matter of fact, all of us are.

Spiritually speaking we are thrown into this world and we have an internal guidance system which draws us towards home. We as Christians are called to help people find their way home. When we set our consciousness to this we find opportunities present themselves and we can do what Christ has told us to. Most people I speak to don't feel worthy enough to help another. They are, and so are you. So get to it. There are a lot of lost people out there.

Ride for Bill

2008-07-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was visiting a friend in Western NC. Bill has cancer and was going to be receiving his 3rd and hopefully final chemo treatment. Another friend and I went to take him to treatment and hangout.

For the past year I've been bicycling for exercise. While there Bill said there was a pretty good bike ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway from milepost 443 to 450. He said it would be a bit of a challenge, offered one of his bikes, and suggested I give it a shot. It sounded like a challenge so of course I immediately committed to it. Then he told me it was....all uphill. Turns out the ride begins at 2400' and finishes at 6292' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterrock_Knob. No flats. No rest. No kidding. I hate when I open my mouth before getting all the information. Well they dropped me off on the way to the treatment center with our friend to return in 2 hours to pick me up.

So now I was either going to make it or spend the next 5 years hearing about it. (Bill takes great pleasure in all sorts of practical jokes and razzing.) The only saving grace is Bill has only made it 2/3 of the way up. And he's one tough sob who doesn't give up. Almost immediately the sweat began, then the legs, then the mental game as the view was uphill as far as I could see. Shoot, I have trouble with a 1/2 mile hill at home, how was I ever going to make this?

Then I thought Bill might be thinking the same thing. But not about a hill. His challenge was much greater. He was sitting in a chair having poison injected in hope it takes the cancer before taking him. No guarantees. The consequences much higher. At some point I decided if Bill could endure that, I'd endure this. So 'round and 'round I went. Then I realized Bill likes a challenge, and if I made it, he couldn't not make it when he'd recovered. But only if I'd made it. Eventually I did. And because bragging rights would be all important in the future I challenged Bill and our other friend Joel to the same climb next year on the same date. They accepted (How could they not!).

So it's a date. The weekend closest to July 8th we'll have the 2nd Ride for Bill on Waterrock knob!

Views: 2.5 million. Dry Eyes: 0

2008-07-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

This is an incredible video and true story about the relationship between a father and son.... and God's relationship with us. Amazing when we stop to think that God's Love is actually greater.
A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'
The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together.
Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father alwayssaying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.'
To which, his father said 'Yes' too. For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever.
The race encompasses three endurance events of
¡¤ A 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim
¡¤ Followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride
¡¤ And ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island .
Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race at..... NOW WATCH THIS VIDEO:

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

The Fire of the First Christians

2008-07-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

It's all about intimacy with God and helping others find the same. Nothing could ever be the same (for them) again, and it doesn't have to be for us either.

"The first Christians were aware that they possessed a "new life." "The simple and sublime certainty of their Baptism" had given them a new reality: nothing could ever be the same again. They had been granted a share in Jesus’ love for all men and women. God lived in them, and as a result the first Christians tried to seek God’s will in every moment; they tried to reflect in their actions the same acceptance the Son showed to the plans of his Father. Through their daily life, through its heroic coherence—heroic often only because of its unfailing constancy—Christ infused life into the environment around them.

They were able to be God’s instruments because they always tried to act as Jesus himself did. St. Justin attributed his faith to the old man he met on the beach, even though his conversion came later. Priscilla and Aquila saw in Apollos a person who could come to have great faith in Christ. Today we realize that the results of such meetings are impossible to gauge. We cannot conceive of the apologists without the figure of St. Justin, while Apollos played a key role in Christianity’s expansion. And it all depended on a single moment. What would have happened if the old man hadn’t taken the initiative and started a conversation with Justin? Or if Aquila and Priscilla had stopped to admire the oratorical skills of Apollos and then continued on their way? We will never know. What we do know is that they responded to the action of the Holy Spirit, who led them to see an opportunity to spread the faith, and God made their docility very fruitful. We see in them what our Father wanted all his children to be, and all Christians: "Each one of you must try to be an apostle of apostles."

What enabled them to correspond to the motions of the Holy Spirit in their soul was, in the first place, their intense life of piety. They set aside specific times during the day to talk more intimately with God, not leaving it to chance. They realized that this was the only way they would be able to find our Lord during the rest of their day. "

Full Article Here: http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=28229

It's not the critic who counts

2008-06-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

I ran across this looking to encourage someone who was minimizing an accomplishment. I think others will find it interesting.

"It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

Peace

Missing It

2008-06-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

I was looking around a website today which promotes "organic churches" and came across this article: http://cmaresources.org/node/62 I wonder if in the US we are somehow "missing it" by thinking church starts from the top down rather than the ground up.

Here's what I mean. In the US we grow up go to church, get baptized and listen each Sunday, and maybe volunteer to help some unfortunate group or join a home team. These are all worthwhile, but miss the point of Christianity. The point being the great commission: Matt. 28: 19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Shouldn't that be the starting point? Inherent in what he's telling us is that WE, as baptized Christians, have all authority and resources we need to "make" new Christians. But we don't use that model. We use the model of go to church, hope to hear a good message, and take something away we try to remember for more than 2 hours. Where's that in the Bible? Where does it say "become a Christian and find a church which feeds you so you can feel better about how you spent Sunday morning"? Nowhere.

Thats why I made the 7th Insight based on the Great Commission. It's what we're commissioned for, and commanded to do. If you've ever heard someone describe their experience as a newcomer at an AA meeting, you will inevitably here them relate how they were told to help another newcomer almost immediately. If you have one day, you can help the person with 1 hour. 1 week, help the person with one day. Why do we train Christians that you need a degree from seminary to talk to someone about Christ!

If Christ has made a difference in your life, DON'T KEEP IT A SECRET!

Peace

Sabotage

2008-06-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

I wrote an incredible blog post this morning. Insightful, full of wisdom, well written and most of all true. I won't post it. While it would make me feel better and give me a sense of winning a battle (and I LOVE battle), I would lose the war. I ran it by my wife who said all the above things about it, then pointed out how it was the result of a character defect. While it would make me feel better, and probably be insightful to people not familiar with the situation, it wouldn't help.

This actually is progress. If you look at the Insights 3 & 4 you will see they deal with removing negative characteristics in our lives. This was a close call. There's one apology I have to make but most of all I averted the self sabotage which invetiably goes along with self will. We look for progress, not perfection. And in this situation it applied.

Peace

How to Make Life Work

2008-06-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

This is the format we use at the beginning of each group meeting:

Making Life Work is a group of men and women who want to improve their lives through a relationship with Jesus Christ. All are welcome. We are here because our lives weren’t working and certain areas had become unmanageable. Our journey to freedom is walked with others who have been where we were, and found the solution.

The exact nature of our problem does not matter. The common factor is that it hides spiritual sickness. Most of us have tried to control these actions for years without success. There is hope. We found a spiritual solution by sharing our struggles with God and each other. We’ve learned that we could not travel this path alone. If so, we would have found the way.

We believe as true, Christ’s promise to comfort the broken hearted, release captives and free prisoners. Our knowledge was gained from hard experience. Soon after beginning our journey we found we were the architects of our own prison walls. While attempting to keep out pain, we caused isolation from God and others. No matter the weakness, the solution is to dismantle the wall by living a Christian life. Here is the path we took:

1) We surrender ourselves to the reality we have issues that are controlling our lives (original sin), and cause them to be unmanageable.
“For we know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning,
for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them”.
1 John 5:18

2) We understand our ways do not work and trust God will restore us and we dedicate our lives to Him.
“For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire
to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.”
Romans 7:18

3) We reveal and confess to another, characteristics causing us separation from God and others.
“Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
James 5:16

4) We commit ourselves to living a life of righteousness, faithfulness, peace and love.
“...let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Romans 12:2

5) After consulting with a trusted person, we asked and offered forgiveness where needed and made restitution where appropriate.
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us“
Matthew 6:12

6) On a daily basis we are vigilant about connecting with God through prayer and action.
“...let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Romans 12:2

7) Having been freed by walking this path, we follow Christ’s command to carry this message to others, that they too may experience freedom.

“Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18

This path is not easy. Our issues took years to develop and aren’t resolved overnight. Freedom results from the difficult task of looking at areas long kept secret from ourselves and the world. The turning point of success is when remaining as we are, is more painful than becoming who we want to be. Our destination is a happy and fulfilling life allowing us to be of service to God and each other.

Inheritance

2008-06-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Galations 4: 4-7 says: But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."

I have to confess something. I find it incredibly difficult sometimes to live like I'm an heir to God's Kingdom. To feel it in my soul. Why is that so hard to think and feel like I have the full inheritance of the ENTIRE KINGDOM OF GOD? The Bible states it plainly. I believe it on an intellectual level. But making it dwell in the heart can seem more daunting than swimming across the ocean with my arms tied behind my back. In reality I don't care. My faith is not determined by my feelings, it's determined by knowing that I am in fact a child of God and he promised to let me come home when my work here is done. That's good enough.

One of my Drill Sergeants in Basic Training, Drill Sergeant Simpson, had a saying when referring to difficult things "It's mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter". I use that saying now when facing difficult situations. Not to dismiss them, but to remember the greater good is worth the trouble of whatever is going on. If, after evaluation it turns out not to be, I have the ability to change it. My ultimate goal is to spend the rest of eternity hanging with Jesus and and everyone else in heaven. To get there I can weather the storms here. I can put up with things for a time that I could never endure for eternity. And eternity is what I'll be spending in my father's house.

Your Legacy ... and Jack's

2008-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

A few days ago we had a guest speaker, Gene Appel formerly of WillowCreek Community Church. It was great. You can hear his message at my churchs' website http://www.moviechurch.com/ . He spoke about leaving our legacy. In other words, what will be said about us when we're gone? He had us write ours on a 3"x5" index card.

Mine is "I want to be known for being a great husband to my wife and having brought millions of people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ". Pretty big I admit. But if we shoot for the stars we will still make it far, even if we don't hit them. If we aim for the garden shed, well we'll wind up in the garden.

I did a funeral last week for a family outside our church. When meeting with a family to plan a service I always ask "what do you want the world to know about them"? Too often the answer is "they were a good person" or "...a generous person". That's it? I don't want to sound krass, but you spent 80 years on this earth and the best those closest to you can come up with is "they were a good person"? I hope we can do better than that! We have so many gifts just being born in this country. We all literally have the power to effect a lot of people, yet most don't. I want to challenge you now. If your life isn't on a course to leave the legacy you want left, CHANGE DIRECTION NOW!!! Don't wait, pass go or collect $200. If you can't because work, family obligations, physical limitations, etc... make a plan to change what you can. It is never too late.

A few days after the funeral I was headed toward the driveway of a friend who has been dying of cancer for the past 15 months. His name was Jack. Before we met he didn't want to see me because I was a "religious guy" and he didn't like religion...in the least. He told me just about each one of the 30 times I visited him. As is often the case, after people meet me and see I'm not a hell fire and damnation type, they like me to visit again. With Jack, we had a lot in common. He liked fly fishing, the outdoors, anything to do with nature and cars or motorcycles and talking about his life and mine. He had racoons which would come bang on the door each night looking for dinner. No kidding. And fox, deer and just about any other critter who wanted to hang out at the house. Even a great little dog named Tony.

On the way up the drive I passed the undertaker from the funeral a few days before. We stopped to talk. He had Jack with him.

But Jack has left a legacy. He had many friends whom he touched deeply, including me. He lived life to the full, and did it his way, even dying. Which he did in his bed in his home with his daughter taking care of him. Just the way he wanted it. He's not even having a funeral. He wanted to have a lunch, the his ashes will be spread over the land he loved. So that's what he'll get.

In his wake he left a legacy of love with a lot of people. A daughter whose phone calls he waited for each night (6:00 sharp). A man named Rick who thought of him as a second father. The park rangers where he lived stopping to check in on him. His friend Lee and her daughter. Audiences who saw his acting or read his newspaper articles and will ever be the same. The Hospice staff who cared for him. He was ornery, and opinionated and full of piss & vinegar, and lived with a gusto not often seen today. Last year he auditioned for a play and up to a few weeks ago I would just as likely have to wait for him to get back home when he'd drive his car around the park to see the activity once more. He possessed an appreciation for life, even as it was being taken from him. He was 92.

Jack will be forgotten, but not soon.

What about you?

He Meant You....

2008-06-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 61:1-3 I have come to heal the brokenhearted, give sight to the blind and open the gates of the prison. Christ used these words to announce his public ministry. We know he came for everyone, so it must mean all of us experience the effects of these. We all are blind in certain areas and built protective walls around us. I talk to alot of people who act as though these things don't effect them. Kind of like the person we've all seen on tv who takes a wicked fall, gets up and says "that didn't hurt.." Yeah right.

So often it sounds like "Yeah, my childhood was rough, but I've put that behind me". No you haven't. And it's ok. The problem is when someone grows up in a house like that they don't think it's ok. They think they always have to act like it is. There's a scene in "Good Will Hunting" when Matt Damon is facing his psychologist played by Robin Williams. Matt relays that when he would come home sometimes his dad would have a belt , a stick and a wrench on the table (one of which he would be using to beat his son) and would make him pick. So which did he choose? The wrench. Why? "Cause F**K Him". All Robin Williams says is "It's ok". He repeats it methodically. The technique works and breaks through Matt Damon's walls. It was only when the wall came down that he could start repairing the damage behind the wall.

Jesus talks about that too. "Matthew 11:28 Come to me all who labor and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest." He wasn't kidding. And he was speaking directly to you. So often we think it's up to us to stand strong, not show weakness, act like we have it all together. That's stupid. No one gets through life un-wounded. It's only those which deny it who choose to carry it daily. Sometimes for the rest of their (often shortened) lives. Instead of letting Jesus take the pain, they let alcohol, sex, pornography, food, credit cards, anger, shame, guilt, etc......

You don't have to carry that stuff around anymore. And you don't have to do that stuff anymore. When Jesus spoke those words, he meant them for you.

Peace

Conflict

2008-06-10T04:59:00.000-07:00

Last night after our MLW meeting we had a leaders meeting. An area of conflict came up. Not serious, but it did touch peoples emotions and the discussion reflected it. What I loved is that the issue was brought out, discussed in a heated fashion and the group came to a concensus with the two members it mostly effected agreeing to work out the details together. It is a classic example of what Patrick Lencioni describes should happen in The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team. Everyone got to speak, and though uncomfortable we stayed on track to resolve the situation.

How different from what many experience growing up in dysfunctional households. There are three rules generally learned in unhealthy personal or work environments; Don't speak, don't trust, don't feel. You see, in unhealthy environments speaking openly, particularly about difficult issues gets you in trouble. You can't trust because something which was perceived innocently last week might trigger an angry reaction this week. And you can't feel because those two create a crazy environment and feeling crazy is generally not an attribute. Ultimately nothing gets done and resentments build.

At Making Life Work we help people get off the merry-go-round and minimize the negative behaviors in their lives. If some area of your life isn't working MLW can help.

Puppy

2008-06-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my last post we had a dog named Puppy who died of cancer 3 years ago. She too was a Jack Russel. Here is a poem my wife wrote when she'd been gone a year. She said I could post it. I think those of you who love pets will be touched.

My Dear Puppy-
I have your footprints on my heart.
Your loyalty was so personal
Your devotion was way bigger than you.
Your little wiggle always made me giggle.
It feels like you have been gone longer than you have.
My tears for you were bigger than any other.
My heart still cries sometimes.
You touched me with everything you did
Your ever watchful eye.
Your constant companionship.. even to the bathroom
How could I go without you?
My scars from your mistaken identity bites.
The memories from your bites hold
a special place with my dearest of friends
Your one on one assault of the last yellow jacket…
You did have the last word.
The groundhog that got away…
Not without leaving his blood on your face.
Your paws- how sweet and tender
The care you gave them.
Who knew they were
Numb and uncomfortable
Not from the long walks
But from the Cancer.
Who knew those piercing eyes were
Taking in all the life they could
Because time would grow short.
Why did God
Give you special to me?
The only answer could be
He loves me with a love so personal
And precious
And powerful
Big in content,
Small in package.
I miss you dearly
I keep your picture in special places
So I can feel the smile
On my heart that you made permanent.
With hopes that one day
You may greet me again
In an old familiar way
That I may kiss your little face
And you can lick mine
Like an ice cream cone
I can pick you up
And rest you on my forearm
With your little barrel chest
In my hand
With you knowing without a doubt
You are my Favored
For who knew me like you
Who attended to me like you
Who really loved me like you
My little K-nine friend
My sweet Puppy-girl.
Where-ever you are
May there be green fields
Blue skies
Lots of groundhogs, squirrels and critters
May you play with the fervor that you lived
And rest peacefully only when you want to.
May Jesus carry you in His hand
Yours truly,
You know who
March 8, 2006

Sneakers

2008-06-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Every man dreams of having a dog. Actually I have 3. Used to be 4. All were homeless when we got them. The oldest, and smallest is a 17 year old Jack Russell named Sneakers. She's like the energizer bunny, keeps going and going and going... We got her about 8 years ago and each year we were sure would be here last. Though she sleeps a lot now and can't see or hear too well, she has the heart of a 2 year old and keeps bouncing around as well as she can until her legs tucker out.

We got her when my wife and I were house sitting a farm. Sneakers and her co-hort "Socks" who everyone knew as "puppy" were abandoned when the family moved away. Actually the surviving children moved in with their aunt because both parents had died. The father killed himself several years before and the Summer prior to us moving to the farm the mother was killed in a car accident. The young children had to go to their aunts' who already owned a dog and couldn't take 2 more. Sneakers and Puppy won the lottery as far as those things go, my wife is a HUGE dog person. We were able to take them when we moved. While they didn't live on a farm anymore, they had anything else a dog could want. Puppy got cancer and died 3 years ago.

Thinking of sneakers' life got me thinking about ours. Sneakers just takes what comes and enjoys every minute she can. When she goes there wil be nothing left not done. She takes full advantage of every minute the best she can. She doesn't dwell on what's past and has eternal optimism towards the future (she's all over me whenever I cook) and gets over bad things pretty quickly. Lessons we can all learn from.

Facing Fears

2008-06-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

I had an opportunity recently to face some old fears. It was a 2 year old conflict which kept nagging me. Actually I had a pretty big resentment over it and needed to deal with it. "deal with it" really meant forgiving someone. But to do that I had to face this person and confront them. The reason I hadn't dealt with it for so long was fear. To make it worse, I drove past this person's place of business several times a week and that feeling in my gut started up every time.

This past week I was able to arrange to meet with them. They suggested a compromise which showed they saw my side. We spoke and as I sat across the table I saw a very scared hurt person. After a few minutes of conversation I realized this person not only estranged me, but seemed to do so with all important relationships. Suddenly my anger dissipated. The resentment, fear and desire for retribution, all faded away. I no longer had to carry that set of bricks everywhere I went. I forgave, and the chains released ...from me.

Later that day my wife and I prayed for him. A deeply serious prayer asking for him that which we ask for ourselves. Love, peace, a sense of purpose and knowledge of being a child of God. All that we want for us, we prayed for him. It's been a long road in life getting to a point where I could do that . It 's been a journey where I learned my freedom and peace is in direct relationship to my ability to forgive and let go.

I hope God answers the prayer.

Philosophy

2008-05-22T05:35:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking, reading and listening a lot to personal development cd's and magazines lately. While a lot of it is common sense, some things put in a new light with the listener having an open mind seem dramatic. One is a concept by speaker, Jim Rohn who speaks about a "personal philosophy". Now we all have a philosophy even if we don't recognize it as such. In my early 20's it was partying. My 30's, training for what God has me to do. My 40's will be doing the work he has given me.

Basically our philosophies are the rules and guidelines we use to direct our actions. If you don't know what your philosophy is, look at your actions. I have a note taped to the top of my computer which says "If you don't live it, you don't believe it". The saying was given to me by my friend Roger Thorne who worked for ServiceMaster and the term was used around the office. The inverse of course is true: if you're not living it you don't believe it.

Many of us live our lives thinking we have one philosophy yet demonstrating another by our actions. I want to be wealthy, have good personal relationships, be satisfied by my work, live a healthy lifestyle and most of all be a powerful witness for God. I'm not satisfied in several areas. But I will be. Over the past 2 years I have been changing my philosophy. I recently wrote 1,3,5 and 10 year goals. While there are some pretty big mountains on that list, all are achievable.

If your philosophy and actions aren't walking parallel paths, or weren't and now are I'd like to hear from you.

Click

2008-05-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

I've gone to church my whole life. During the entire 40+ years there have been few instances when I felt like what happens made any long term relational difference in someones life. Sure we did "service projects" where relatively affluent middle class people went to "help those less fortunate" several times. While powerful, it seemed like an "us and them" sort of thing. Not really like building community together.

Every Monday night we have a MLW meeting at our church. This past week a guy, I'll call Bob, who has been coming to our church for a month showed up. His story is pretty common. Second wife left, kids from previous marriage having significant difficulties, he can't stop using but hates that he does.... Basically he's at a bottom. He came Monday night wanting to make a change and spoke about it in an honest and emotionally moving way. I hope he comes back.

But that wasn't the most powerful thing about the night. After the meeting I was talking to another guy, I'll call Jack, who's been coming around a few weeks. We were discusssing the meeting and Bob's struggles. I said to Jack that because he was here tonight, Bob felt part of a true Christian community. A community that cared about and accepted him even with all his faults out in the open. A community that isn't here today, gone tomorrow. That because Jack was there that night another man's whole existance might be changed. Just by his mere presence and willingness to walk beside him! When the words sunk in something clicked. I don't know if Jack noticed, but his whole countenance changed for a few seconds. I like to think he realized he played a vital role Monday night just by showing up.

I hope something changed that night...for two people.

Headwind

2008-05-11T08:32:00.000-07:00

I love to bike. Actually I love anything outdoors, but bicycling lets me combine the outdoors and practicality of getting to work in one. On my way home from the service this morning I ran into a strong headwind on a couple of roads. One a significant hill. As I was huffing up the hill I began thinking how much my life was like this sometimes. I face a strong headwind or challenge, put my head down and start grindning it out. The last 10% always seems hardest. My lungs and legs are burning, heart pumping, sweat starting and everything in me wants to stop. But I don't.

I made a decision when I began biking again a year and a half ago that I don't stop going up hills. I don't care how much it hurts, I don't stop. I sometimes make a small circle to give a few seconds of relief, and when I do I have to cover the same ground again. Or I'll do what we did as kids and swerve back and forth making progress, only more slowly. But I won't quit. At some point 2 years ago I made the life decision I will not quit. I don't care what happens to, near or in me, I won't quit. I will put my head down grind it out and do whatever it takes for however long it takes to finish what I started.

It's a new habit for me. And a difficult one. In order to do what God has given me to accomplish it is essential. And it pays off. Next Sunday the May 18th 2008 I will walk with my graduating class from Seminary! I have to tell you it has been the most difficult journey I've taken. I turned back a few times, taking semesters off, applying to other schools, leaving the denomination in which I began school, whining, crying and rejoicing. In the end I stuck it out and finished what I started. There has been no more difficult experience in my entire life. And none more rewarding.

It's a hard lesson to learn, one which I wish I'd learned 27 years ago, but I'll accept now.

Peace.

Making Life Work

2008-03-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

This past Monday night we began a program called "Making Life Work" which I've been designing with 3 members of our church since December. The official start is April 7th, but since it's new we are running a few test meetings.

The group is about helping people make life work. Particularly those battling compulsions, negative behaviors and dysfunctional relationships (CBD's). Getting this together has been an exercise in growth, both personal and spiritual. It's a program based on 7 spiritual insights which when implemented help people minimize the effects of of CBD's in their life.

One of the biggest challenges is getting people to understand how many people this effects. I get to see it first hand because the results are brought to me every week in the form of people who come for help. National studies show 7% of the population are alcoholic and another 22% binge drinkers. If we say 1/2 the binge drinkers will eventually have a problem that's 18% of a population with a problem. Double that (conservatively) for people who are affected by the user and you've got a big number.

Our church has been averaging 1200 people consistantly. Multiply by 18% and you have 432 people affected by this. A lot of people are quietly suffering each week, and they don't have too. My team and I are about helping these people realize a better life and Making Life Work.