I watched another Netflix documentary today. In keeping with yesterday's theme, I watched one about President Franklin Roosevelt. It was very well done and helped me to understand more about this amazing man and his times.
He definitely overcame great obstacles in his life. His optimism helped him to lead the country through the depths of the Great Depression and World War II. While he never had use of his legs after coming down with Polio, he did not allow this to stop him. In many ways, the obstacles of his life strengthened him and helped to call America to greatness in the world.
He was a man with a very healthy ego who could fill a room with his personality. He was also a man who had deep personal flaws. He was able to offer help to so many people who suffered and yet he really was by most standards not a very positive husband or father. Yet, out of this complicated and frail human being, came great strength.
It made me stop and reflect about my own life. The things that I face are nothing compared to the challenges that FDR faced, yet I am quick to whine about trivial things. I wish I had this kind of leadership ability. I wish that I could cast the kind of vision that he did and remind the country and the world that the only thing to fear is fear itself. After watching this documentary, I feel inspired and blessed. I am grateful to be a citizen of such a great country that produces leaders like FDR who proclaim freedom and liberty to the world and are living examples of the resilience of the American spirit.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Mustard Relish Hot Dog Clip Art
Today we bring you another entry in the hot dog clip art series. This one is a mustard and relish hot dog clipart image. I have never been a big fan of relish so the image doesn't look particularly appetizing to me, but I know there are lots of people out there that love it so maybe they'll enjoy the image more!
In any case I can appreciate the design and artistry that when into creating it.
In any case I can appreciate the design and artistry that when into creating it.
Friday, July 30, 2010
An Amazing Woman
I've been watching a lot of documentaries lately through my Netflix subscription. Tonight I watched a PBS documentary on Eleanor Roosevelt. Wow! I had no idea what an amazing woman she was. I have read more about FDR and I knew through my readings that Mrs. Roosevelt was the "eyes and ears" of her husband when he was President. I also knew that she had been a voice for the voiceless in society, but I had no idea how much influence she had on so many different social programs during the Great Depression. I also knew that she was a part of the newly formed United Nations after World War II but I had no idea what a key role she played in helping to develop the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I love history and this documentary was a real treat. I love learning about people who made a difference in their time and Eleanor Roosevelt is a prime example of this kind of person. Born into great privilege, she could have just lived a care-free life. Instead, she used her influence to challenge the status quo.
I also am amazed that while Eleanor Roosevelt had such compassion for so many people in need, in some ways she had a very difficult time expressing love and affection for those who were closest to her. At the same time, she marched to the beat of her own drum and developed very close relationships with a diverse group of people.
Right up until the end of her life, she stood against oppression. I loved the story described in this documentary in which she defied the threats on her life by the KKK and flew to Tennessee to teach people about civil disobedience in the face of segregation. She was a shrewd politician and a wonderfully charismatic figure. I'm ever grateful that I got to watch this documentary. I only wish that my life would have a tiny portion of the impact that Eleanor Roosevelt's life did.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
I love history and this documentary was a real treat. I love learning about people who made a difference in their time and Eleanor Roosevelt is a prime example of this kind of person. Born into great privilege, she could have just lived a care-free life. Instead, she used her influence to challenge the status quo.
I also am amazed that while Eleanor Roosevelt had such compassion for so many people in need, in some ways she had a very difficult time expressing love and affection for those who were closest to her. At the same time, she marched to the beat of her own drum and developed very close relationships with a diverse group of people.
Right up until the end of her life, she stood against oppression. I loved the story described in this documentary in which she defied the threats on her life by the KKK and flew to Tennessee to teach people about civil disobedience in the face of segregation. She was a shrewd politician and a wonderfully charismatic figure. I'm ever grateful that I got to watch this documentary. I only wish that my life would have a tiny portion of the impact that Eleanor Roosevelt's life did.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
back on track in august
as already stated last post, i've fallen way far behind on my posts!
i promise to get back on track after this weekend. however in the meantime i will not be able to use my puter for the next few days, so any comments that get made right now will be unmoderated till tuesday canada time... sorry.
speaking of comment moderation i had meant to properly announce that this month. like the rest of the Prehistoric Insanity family of blogs, i've been forced to adapt major spam filtering procedures, the number of spam and junk comments i was getting was becoming ridiculous!
in good news since i put it up some 70ish spams have been stopped (with ease). that's just in the first month! in bad news people now have to wait a little while for their comments to make it up publicly (though hopefully not too long most of the time... i do check at least 3 times a day!)
i promise to get back on track after this weekend. however in the meantime i will not be able to use my puter for the next few days, so any comments that get made right now will be unmoderated till tuesday canada time... sorry.
speaking of comment moderation i had meant to properly announce that this month. like the rest of the Prehistoric Insanity family of blogs, i've been forced to adapt major spam filtering procedures, the number of spam and junk comments i was getting was becoming ridiculous!
in good news since i put it up some 70ish spams have been stopped (with ease). that's just in the first month! in bad news people now have to wait a little while for their comments to make it up publicly (though hopefully not too long most of the time... i do check at least 3 times a day!)
So You Think You Can Dance Final Four
Tonight they sent two dancers home on So You Think You Can Dance: Jose and Billy. I really thought Billy would make it through to the final four dancers but I never bothered to vote so I guess I can't be too disappointed. I really like Kent and Lauren. I'm hoping that one them wins the competition. AdeChike and Robert are very good dancers but I Kent and Lauren are the best dancers.
This has been a really challenging season to watch. There have been a lot of people eliminated because of injuries. I can't decide if I really like the new format with only ten dancers. I do like seeing the All Star Dancers from previous seasons. I wish they could start out with 20 dancers and have the All Star Dancers. I guess then the season would last until Christmas. Of course, this would be fine with me. However, no television producers ever consult me about any of this.
I'm ready for the weekend. The week has flown by and at the same time I'm ready to veg out and do not much of anything this weekend.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
This has been a really challenging season to watch. There have been a lot of people eliminated because of injuries. I can't decide if I really like the new format with only ten dancers. I do like seeing the All Star Dancers from previous seasons. I wish they could start out with 20 dancers and have the All Star Dancers. I guess then the season would last until Christmas. Of course, this would be fine with me. However, no television producers ever consult me about any of this.
I'm ready for the weekend. The week has flown by and at the same time I'm ready to veg out and do not much of anything this weekend.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
backyard dinosaur #5
man oh man... i've fallen way behind on my posts!
all i can say is when you see the results of the first round of the OH-lympic ice hockey and the aftermath, you'll understand why i haven't been able to post as much as i'd been hoping too... stay tuned!
getting myself back on track here is july's installment of backyard dinosaurs (yes i know its supposed to be weekly, but we've run out of those)...
a steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) i saw hanging the mountains of vancouver.
all i can say is when you see the results of the first round of the OH-lympic ice hockey and the aftermath, you'll understand why i haven't been able to post as much as i'd been hoping too... stay tuned!
getting myself back on track here is july's installment of backyard dinosaurs (yes i know its supposed to be weekly, but we've run out of those)...
a steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) i saw hanging the mountains of vancouver.
A Servant's Heart
I long to have the heart of a servant. I enjoy helping people. I really have a passion for working with the poor. I love the work I do with Habitat for Humanity. However, I sometimes wonder if I am really being the best servant I could be. Sometimes I am so busy with all kinds of tasks, I don't take the time to really listen to the people whom I say I want to serve. Sometimes I lose patience with people and want to fix them rather than appreciating them for who they are and the gifts that they have to share. Sometimes I get a bit full of myself and think that I know what's best for people rather than respecting their dreams and life goals.
I long to have the sincere heart of a servant. I want to do what God wants and not what I want. I want to serve because God calls me to serve rather than to experience some warm and fuzzy feeling I get from serving. I want to serve out of love and not self-interest. I want to serve with people and not just do for them. I want to be humble so that my service points to Jesus and not Kevin. I want to be filled with compassion even when I'm tired and feeling empty. I want to embrace a life of servanthood in all that I do, in how I use my resources, and in how I treat others. Oh, how I long to have a servant's heart!
I hope and pray that you will also discover the joy of servanthood in your life. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
I long to have the sincere heart of a servant. I want to do what God wants and not what I want. I want to serve because God calls me to serve rather than to experience some warm and fuzzy feeling I get from serving. I want to serve out of love and not self-interest. I want to serve with people and not just do for them. I want to be humble so that my service points to Jesus and not Kevin. I want to be filled with compassion even when I'm tired and feeling empty. I want to embrace a life of servanthood in all that I do, in how I use my resources, and in how I treat others. Oh, how I long to have a servant's heart!
I hope and pray that you will also discover the joy of servanthood in your life. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
O Me of Little Faith
I had a wonderful experience today in my work with Habitat for Humanity. One of the things that I have been charged with is educational classes to help our Partner Families obtain the tools they need to become successful home owners. I have been worried about how I was going to accomplish this. Our service area is so huge - eight counties in three states - I was having a hard time finding anyone who would work with us give all of our families the same quality education. So, in the face of this seemingly overwhelming task, I have done what I do best - be anxious.
Today I met with one of our volunteers who works with an agency that has helped some of our families in the past with financial education. This is the area I was most worried about. I didn't think that she or her agency would be willing to work with families throughout our entire service area. I was wrong. Instead, she was more than willing to help and even had a plan on how we could best serve families. I sat there listening to this volunteer talk about what she has done and what she would like to do and I nearly started to cry. I wanted to lunge across her desk and hug her; however, I refrained and just thanked her for her willingness to serve our families in this way.
As I drove back to the office, I was filled with joy and excitement. I couldn't believe what had just happened. God had answered my prayers. God had provided and made a way when there seemed to be no way. I had put off meeting with this volunteer for several weeks because I thought I knew how she would respond to the needs of our families. I didn't think she would want to do what we wanted or needed. I was wrong. I was so wrong. I didn't see it, but I was actually the one holding up our family education program because I was didn't trust in God's boundless providence. It was a humbling lesson about faith and trust in a God Who loves me and provides for all our needs.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Today I met with one of our volunteers who works with an agency that has helped some of our families in the past with financial education. This is the area I was most worried about. I didn't think that she or her agency would be willing to work with families throughout our entire service area. I was wrong. Instead, she was more than willing to help and even had a plan on how we could best serve families. I sat there listening to this volunteer talk about what she has done and what she would like to do and I nearly started to cry. I wanted to lunge across her desk and hug her; however, I refrained and just thanked her for her willingness to serve our families in this way.
As I drove back to the office, I was filled with joy and excitement. I couldn't believe what had just happened. God had answered my prayers. God had provided and made a way when there seemed to be no way. I had put off meeting with this volunteer for several weeks because I thought I knew how she would respond to the needs of our families. I didn't think she would want to do what we wanted or needed. I was wrong. I was so wrong. I didn't see it, but I was actually the one holding up our family education program because I was didn't trust in God's boundless providence. It was a humbling lesson about faith and trust in a God Who loves me and provides for all our needs.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Salt
I went with my friend Karen and her son to see the movie Salt today. The movie stars Angelina Jolie who plays a CIA agent. I must admit that my head is still spinning after watching the movie. This is an action movie on steroids. Jolie's character is able to leap onto speeding trucks, make missiles out of office chairs, and disguise herself to fool high security personnel.
While the plot is not very plausible, I really didn't care about that. I liked the action. I liked the twists and turns of the plot. I liked being surprised by what happened. I liked not being able to figure out who were the "bad guys" and who were the "good guys". For me, it was just fun summer entertainment.
I'm grateful that I have Mondays off this summer to be able to catch do things like this. I'm grateful for being able to re-connect with Karen. It is truly a God thing that we live to so close to one another.
I'm looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow. I have meetings tomorrow that will take up most of my day. I also am hoping that we are going to be receiving a lot of requests for applications for home ownership at Habitat for Humanity. We were able to have a flyer sent out with every utility bill in the city of Hamilton. The city's population is about 60,000 and there are over 24,000 households. So, that means that our flyer went out to around 24,000 families. This doesn't include businesses. So, I'm hoping we will get some interest in our program and be able to serve more families living in need.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
While the plot is not very plausible, I really didn't care about that. I liked the action. I liked the twists and turns of the plot. I liked being surprised by what happened. I liked not being able to figure out who were the "bad guys" and who were the "good guys". For me, it was just fun summer entertainment.
I'm grateful that I have Mondays off this summer to be able to catch do things like this. I'm grateful for being able to re-connect with Karen. It is truly a God thing that we live to so close to one another.
I'm looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow. I have meetings tomorrow that will take up most of my day. I also am hoping that we are going to be receiving a lot of requests for applications for home ownership at Habitat for Humanity. We were able to have a flyer sent out with every utility bill in the city of Hamilton. The city's population is about 60,000 and there are over 24,000 households. So, that means that our flyer went out to around 24,000 families. This doesn't include businesses. So, I'm hoping we will get some interest in our program and be able to serve more families living in need.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Teach Us to Pray
The pastor at the church I attended this morning preached about prayer. He focused on the passage from the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus lays out for his disciples a model for prayer. It's what we know as the Lord's Prayer.
I've been thinking all day about my own prayer life. Prayer is that amazing thing that somehow puts me in touch with God in a way that I can't begin to understand. There is a mystical communion that takes place when I pray. I am able to let it all hang out. While God knows all my needs and wants before I even ask, God still listens to my prayer. God knows my darkest secrets, my foulest sins, my inward desires, and my greatest fears. When I come to God in prayer all that stuff is present. Yet, prayer allows me to come into the presence of the Holy One Who is ready to forgive and heal.
I wish prayer came more naturally to me than it does. I have at times been very regimented in my prayer life. I would say certain specific prayers and spend long periods in silence on my knees. I would make sure to cover all of the bases and lift up a laundry list of concerns to God. However, now, prayer is different for me. My morning walks are a time of prayer for me. Hearing a special song is prayer time for me. Sitting in silence and trying to listen for God to speak is prayer for me. Experiencing beauty in art and nature can also be prayer time for me. The means by which I pray to God have grown and expanded and have helped me to connect with God in new ways. Yet, still I feel as if I need to grow in my practice of prayer.
This morning when we prayed the Lord's prayer together, I recalled again the powerfulness of this prayer of Jesus. It is not only a model but a kind of centering prayer. It's words and rhythms are as familiar to me as putting on my socks and shoes each morning. And while there is a temptation to just say the words without giving thought to their meaning, there is power in the words that somehow can transform the one who says them. It's more than just a prayer to recite from memory, they are the words of our Lord Who both prays with us, prays for us, and teaches us to pray all at the same time. When I pray this prayer, my will, my wants, my desires come into line with God's will for the world.
I'm grateful for the sermon I heard this morning. I'm grateful for the church that I have been attending. I'm grateful for the gift of prayer. I'm grateful that Jesus took the time to teach us to pray.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
I've been thinking all day about my own prayer life. Prayer is that amazing thing that somehow puts me in touch with God in a way that I can't begin to understand. There is a mystical communion that takes place when I pray. I am able to let it all hang out. While God knows all my needs and wants before I even ask, God still listens to my prayer. God knows my darkest secrets, my foulest sins, my inward desires, and my greatest fears. When I come to God in prayer all that stuff is present. Yet, prayer allows me to come into the presence of the Holy One Who is ready to forgive and heal.
I wish prayer came more naturally to me than it does. I have at times been very regimented in my prayer life. I would say certain specific prayers and spend long periods in silence on my knees. I would make sure to cover all of the bases and lift up a laundry list of concerns to God. However, now, prayer is different for me. My morning walks are a time of prayer for me. Hearing a special song is prayer time for me. Sitting in silence and trying to listen for God to speak is prayer for me. Experiencing beauty in art and nature can also be prayer time for me. The means by which I pray to God have grown and expanded and have helped me to connect with God in new ways. Yet, still I feel as if I need to grow in my practice of prayer.
This morning when we prayed the Lord's prayer together, I recalled again the powerfulness of this prayer of Jesus. It is not only a model but a kind of centering prayer. It's words and rhythms are as familiar to me as putting on my socks and shoes each morning. And while there is a temptation to just say the words without giving thought to their meaning, there is power in the words that somehow can transform the one who says them. It's more than just a prayer to recite from memory, they are the words of our Lord Who both prays with us, prays for us, and teaches us to pray all at the same time. When I pray this prayer, my will, my wants, my desires come into line with God's will for the world.
I'm grateful for the sermon I heard this morning. I'm grateful for the church that I have been attending. I'm grateful for the gift of prayer. I'm grateful that Jesus took the time to teach us to pray.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Broken Glass
I was emptying my dishwasher this morning and I broke one of my drinking glasses. It was part of a set of six glasses that I have had for a number of years. It hit the kitchen floor and shattered. I then spent the better part of the next half hour dealing with this one broken glass. While it seems like a rather minor event. It's something that everyone has experienced at one time or another. For me, this broken glass seems to be more than just a broken glass to me. I've been thinking about this experience all day and I thought I would share with you some of what has been going through my mind and heart.
Memories: There were a lot of memories related to this glass. I remember I bought the set of glasses at Meijer back in the 1990's. My friends Terry and Susan had a set of these glasses at the time and I remember going over to their home one time and commenting on how much I liked them. Shortly after that, I went out and bought a set of these glasses for myself.
Terry and Susan were such a blessing to me at that time in my life and ministry. They taught me much about faithfulness and helped me to experience grace in deep and abiding ways. There were so many times when I was a guest in their home when we sat talking late into the night about all manner of things. They prayed with me, loved me, fed me, listened to me and helped me through some very challenging times in my ministry. I think I learned more about what it means to have a true hunger for God and the things of God from Terry and Susan than any other people I've ever met.
Thirst: This glass has been a familiar companion with me for over a decade. I always seem to have a glass of something - water or diet soda - in one of these glasses when I am at home. I have always liked cold drinks much more than hot drinks. I like lots of ice. There is nothing better on a hot day like those we are experiencing now in the Cincinnati area than to have an ice-cold drink nearby.
I also got to thinking about my spiritual thirst. I have always been a kind of seeker. I am eager to know more about God. I study the Scriptures to learn about Who God is and how God has spoken and is speaking to the world. It is God Who can quench my thirst for knowledge in a dry and weary land. I have tried to fill my cup with other things in life but I know that it is only God who can fill my cup to overflowing with grace and steadfast love.
Fragility: That glass shattered into what seemed like a thousand pieces on my floor. As I picked up the pieces, large and tiny, I was reminded of how fragile life is. We are here today and gone tomorrow. The prophet Isaiah says that people are like grass. We shoot from the ground in hope full of new life and then we dry and whither away. We are here for such a short time. We are temporary. Only God is eternal.
In this fragile state in which we live, God still blesses us with friends, family, love, art, music, food, beauty and grace. Although we occupy this earth for such a short time, God makes our stay full and rich and wonderful. God whispers our name and reminds us again and again that while our bodies - these shells that we inhabit - are fragile, there is a part, a holy part that is eternal. While still fragile and susceptible to corruption, God prepares a place for that fragile, holy part of us to dwell with God forever.
Brokenness: That glass looked nearly perfect when I first bought it. It was shiny and new and smooth. It was made of really thick glass which is one of the reasons that I liked it. I thought there would be less chance of it breaking. It was kind of heavy and I liked how it felt in my hand. It seemed substantial. I thought I would have it for many years to come. However, that glass is broken and is now out in the dumpster. It is no longer useful for it's original function. Even if I wanted to gather all of the pieces and try to glue it back together, it would never really be the same. There's no way to bring it back to it's original look or feel. It's broken.
As I knelt down on the floor picking up all those pieces of glass, I was reminded of my own brokenness in life. I am arrogant, selfish, self-centered, gluttonous, slothful, passive aggressive, unforgiving, and stubborn. These are just the things I can think of right now and am willing to admit. There is a lot of other stuff that contributes to and is a part of my broken state as a human being. My sin is ever present and it is only by God's grace that I can move forward in this journey. I am broken but God's love somehow keeps me together.
Deep Cleaning: This broken glass was a cause for me to do some deep cleaning in my kitchen. I pulled up all the rugs, shook them out, and ran them through the washing machine. I picked up the big pieces of glass with my hands and then swept up the rest of the tiny pieces. I got down on my hands and knees and washed the floor. (My Mom would be proud of me for that.) My kitchen is as clean as it's been since I moved in.
I realize there are times in my spiritual life when I have needed to do some heavy duty deep cleaning. During the season of Lent, I often try to intensely focus on my relationship with God and examine my own heart and life. I also know that in times when I have messed up and sinned in life, these are usually times to stop and remind myself of who I am and Whose I am. During these times especially, I often find myself asking for God's mercy and forgiveness and grace to fill my life and heart. It all usually begins by me admitting that I am broken and then crying out to the God Who loves me to wash the stain of sin from my life.
Prayer: When I was down on my knees cleaning, I was reminded again of the importance of the spiritual discipline of prayer. When I was cleaning up that broken glass, I took the time to pray. I said a prayer of thanksgiving for the memories that came to mind about this glass and my friends Terry and Susan. I thanked God for the gift of my new home in a new place that is such a blessing to me. I thanked God for my new job at TriState Habitat for Humanity. It is a miracle that I am here and I feel that I am doing what God has called me to do and am being blessed on a daily basis through my work.
As I picked up the glass and cleaned the kitchen floor, I thought of the amazing seventeenth century Christian Brother Lawrence. For Brother Lawrence, "common business," no matter how mundane or routine, could be a medium of God's love. The sacredness or worldly status of a task mattered less than motivation behind it. Brother Lawrence wrote: "Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."
Blessing: If this glass had not broken today, I'm not sure that I would have been in tune with any of this. While I felt a strange sense of grief when that glass broke today, I think it was also a kind of spiritual wake up call. It got me down on my knees. It caused me to offer praise and thanksgiving to the God of all creation. It reminded me of the journey that God has led me along. It reminded me of the blessings of friends who have helped me and supported me. It reminded me of my own fragility and brokenness. In fact, in the midst of that broken glass was grace and blessing for my life and heart.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my life's ramblings and experiences through this blog. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Memories: There were a lot of memories related to this glass. I remember I bought the set of glasses at Meijer back in the 1990's. My friends Terry and Susan had a set of these glasses at the time and I remember going over to their home one time and commenting on how much I liked them. Shortly after that, I went out and bought a set of these glasses for myself.
Terry and Susan were such a blessing to me at that time in my life and ministry. They taught me much about faithfulness and helped me to experience grace in deep and abiding ways. There were so many times when I was a guest in their home when we sat talking late into the night about all manner of things. They prayed with me, loved me, fed me, listened to me and helped me through some very challenging times in my ministry. I think I learned more about what it means to have a true hunger for God and the things of God from Terry and Susan than any other people I've ever met.
Thirst: This glass has been a familiar companion with me for over a decade. I always seem to have a glass of something - water or diet soda - in one of these glasses when I am at home. I have always liked cold drinks much more than hot drinks. I like lots of ice. There is nothing better on a hot day like those we are experiencing now in the Cincinnati area than to have an ice-cold drink nearby.
I also got to thinking about my spiritual thirst. I have always been a kind of seeker. I am eager to know more about God. I study the Scriptures to learn about Who God is and how God has spoken and is speaking to the world. It is God Who can quench my thirst for knowledge in a dry and weary land. I have tried to fill my cup with other things in life but I know that it is only God who can fill my cup to overflowing with grace and steadfast love.
Fragility: That glass shattered into what seemed like a thousand pieces on my floor. As I picked up the pieces, large and tiny, I was reminded of how fragile life is. We are here today and gone tomorrow. The prophet Isaiah says that people are like grass. We shoot from the ground in hope full of new life and then we dry and whither away. We are here for such a short time. We are temporary. Only God is eternal.
In this fragile state in which we live, God still blesses us with friends, family, love, art, music, food, beauty and grace. Although we occupy this earth for such a short time, God makes our stay full and rich and wonderful. God whispers our name and reminds us again and again that while our bodies - these shells that we inhabit - are fragile, there is a part, a holy part that is eternal. While still fragile and susceptible to corruption, God prepares a place for that fragile, holy part of us to dwell with God forever.
Brokenness: That glass looked nearly perfect when I first bought it. It was shiny and new and smooth. It was made of really thick glass which is one of the reasons that I liked it. I thought there would be less chance of it breaking. It was kind of heavy and I liked how it felt in my hand. It seemed substantial. I thought I would have it for many years to come. However, that glass is broken and is now out in the dumpster. It is no longer useful for it's original function. Even if I wanted to gather all of the pieces and try to glue it back together, it would never really be the same. There's no way to bring it back to it's original look or feel. It's broken.
As I knelt down on the floor picking up all those pieces of glass, I was reminded of my own brokenness in life. I am arrogant, selfish, self-centered, gluttonous, slothful, passive aggressive, unforgiving, and stubborn. These are just the things I can think of right now and am willing to admit. There is a lot of other stuff that contributes to and is a part of my broken state as a human being. My sin is ever present and it is only by God's grace that I can move forward in this journey. I am broken but God's love somehow keeps me together.
Deep Cleaning: This broken glass was a cause for me to do some deep cleaning in my kitchen. I pulled up all the rugs, shook them out, and ran them through the washing machine. I picked up the big pieces of glass with my hands and then swept up the rest of the tiny pieces. I got down on my hands and knees and washed the floor. (My Mom would be proud of me for that.) My kitchen is as clean as it's been since I moved in.
I realize there are times in my spiritual life when I have needed to do some heavy duty deep cleaning. During the season of Lent, I often try to intensely focus on my relationship with God and examine my own heart and life. I also know that in times when I have messed up and sinned in life, these are usually times to stop and remind myself of who I am and Whose I am. During these times especially, I often find myself asking for God's mercy and forgiveness and grace to fill my life and heart. It all usually begins by me admitting that I am broken and then crying out to the God Who loves me to wash the stain of sin from my life.
Prayer: When I was down on my knees cleaning, I was reminded again of the importance of the spiritual discipline of prayer. When I was cleaning up that broken glass, I took the time to pray. I said a prayer of thanksgiving for the memories that came to mind about this glass and my friends Terry and Susan. I thanked God for the gift of my new home in a new place that is such a blessing to me. I thanked God for my new job at TriState Habitat for Humanity. It is a miracle that I am here and I feel that I am doing what God has called me to do and am being blessed on a daily basis through my work.
As I picked up the glass and cleaned the kitchen floor, I thought of the amazing seventeenth century Christian Brother Lawrence. For Brother Lawrence, "common business," no matter how mundane or routine, could be a medium of God's love. The sacredness or worldly status of a task mattered less than motivation behind it. Brother Lawrence wrote: "Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."
Blessing: If this glass had not broken today, I'm not sure that I would have been in tune with any of this. While I felt a strange sense of grief when that glass broke today, I think it was also a kind of spiritual wake up call. It got me down on my knees. It caused me to offer praise and thanksgiving to the God of all creation. It reminded me of the journey that God has led me along. It reminded me of the blessings of friends who have helped me and supported me. It reminded me of my own fragility and brokenness. In fact, in the midst of that broken glass was grace and blessing for my life and heart.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my life's ramblings and experiences through this blog. Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Black and White Hot Dog Clip Art
Last time I brought you the most simple hot dog clip art image I could find, since we can build up from there and check out progressively more interesting images. But today's images are black and white hot dog clip art. These are great because you can color them anyway you want and make them uniquely yours.
Hot dogs don't look quite so appetizing when they're totally lacking color, do they?
Hot dogs don't look quite so appetizing when they're totally lacking color, do they?
Friday, July 23, 2010
Day 3593: "Rest" Day in Chicago
Note: The gap blogs will be filled in shortly-we are experiencing technical difficulties and will be back on the air shortly.
The group split up yesterday for the rest day in Chicago. However, they all reunited, albeit in two groups, at The Friendly Confines, Wrigley Field. With help from donors, all seven members of the team were able to attend the Cubs-Cardinals game this afternoon, watching Sweet Lou's ballplayers romp the Cardinals 5-0. A day that saw Alfonso Soriano, a Lupatkin family favorite when with the Yankees, hit a home run and Albert Pujols, a Lupatkin family favorite although he made Tino Martinez obsolete, go 0-4 will truly prove to be memorable. Sitting in the bleachers, Shane, Claire, Sanford, Zane, and Jason proved to be a lively bunch, making conversation with the fans around and even the outfielders at one point. Unfortunately, although that conversation led to Marlon Byrd throwing Shane and Jason a ball after warming up, he may have become to energetic and enthused about the FACE AIDS mission; in fact, he overthrew our two matching boys and ended up hitting a clueless Zane in the end. Used mostly to holding pitchforks and other farming implements, Zane's calloused hands were no match for not-cow filled leather, as he quite literally dropped the ball, leaving Claire with an injured finger and the other riders filled with a seething, festering anger.
With "Go Cubs, Go" playing their heads, members of the team went their separate ways for dinner. Enjoying a delightful and delicious dinner at the Sullivan Household, courtesy of Tim and Sue, were Shane, Sanford, Claire, Jason, and Zane, while Mike and Kirsten head back to Batavia.
The night culminated with a 50 mile drive back to homebase in Batavia, where the team was forced to endure rough thunderstorms in the Mystery Machine. Fear not, however, as our meddling kids were able to weather the storm (get it?) and make it to the Pufahl Household in one piece.
PS An obvious many thanks to Kirsten's family for hosting the team and being as flexible as they have been.
PPS Yes, Joel, maybe they should have kept Soriano
The group split up yesterday for the rest day in Chicago. However, they all reunited, albeit in two groups, at The Friendly Confines, Wrigley Field. With help from donors, all seven members of the team were able to attend the Cubs-Cardinals game this afternoon, watching Sweet Lou's ballplayers romp the Cardinals 5-0. A day that saw Alfonso Soriano, a Lupatkin family favorite when with the Yankees, hit a home run and Albert Pujols, a Lupatkin family favorite although he made Tino Martinez obsolete, go 0-4 will truly prove to be memorable. Sitting in the bleachers, Shane, Claire, Sanford, Zane, and Jason proved to be a lively bunch, making conversation with the fans around and even the outfielders at one point. Unfortunately, although that conversation led to Marlon Byrd throwing Shane and Jason a ball after warming up, he may have become to energetic and enthused about the FACE AIDS mission; in fact, he overthrew our two matching boys and ended up hitting a clueless Zane in the end. Used mostly to holding pitchforks and other farming implements, Zane's calloused hands were no match for not-cow filled leather, as he quite literally dropped the ball, leaving Claire with an injured finger and the other riders filled with a seething, festering anger.
With "Go Cubs, Go" playing their heads, members of the team went their separate ways for dinner. Enjoying a delightful and delicious dinner at the Sullivan Household, courtesy of Tim and Sue, were Shane, Sanford, Claire, Jason, and Zane, while Mike and Kirsten head back to Batavia.
The night culminated with a 50 mile drive back to homebase in Batavia, where the team was forced to endure rough thunderstorms in the Mystery Machine. Fear not, however, as our meddling kids were able to weather the storm (get it?) and make it to the Pufahl Household in one piece.
PS An obvious many thanks to Kirsten's family for hosting the team and being as flexible as they have been.
PPS Yes, Joel, maybe they should have kept Soriano
Living Simply
I read an interesting article today about three people who have chosen to simplify their lives and live on $18,000 or less income per year. Here's a link to the article:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/RetirementandWills/PlayingCatchUp/weston-living-on-18000-dollars-a-year-by-choice.aspx
Their ages are 25, 44 and 60. They're all college-educated and have chosen to live frugally so they can pursue their own interests.
In spite of the generational differences, these three people have several things in common when it comes to managing their resources. They have chosen to not listen to the culture of consumerism. Instead, they live simply. They seem to have clear understandings of the difference between wants and needs. They are able to focus their lives on the things that really matter to them because they are not slaves to material things.
As I read this article, I kept thinking about Jesus' words from the Gospel of Luke:
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. - Luke 12:27-31, NIV
While these three people who have chosen lives of frugality may or may not be people of faith, they have certainly come to understand what Jesus was talking about. They do not live by the same standards as the rest of the world. They have jumped off the treadmill of success that causes so many people to earn more so they can have more. Instead, they choose less. They choose live simply and trust that it will be enough.
My favorite quote in the article are these sentences from the last paragraph:
I emerged from these interviews with a big smile on my face. These three people were so delighted with their lives -- and excited about the future -- that it was positively contagious.
What a wonderful thought - to be delighted with one's own life. How delighted God must be when we understand that less can truly be more and that God will provide for our every need.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/RetirementandWills/PlayingCatchUp/weston-living-on-18000-dollars-a-year-by-choice.aspx
Their ages are 25, 44 and 60. They're all college-educated and have chosen to live frugally so they can pursue their own interests.
In spite of the generational differences, these three people have several things in common when it comes to managing their resources. They have chosen to not listen to the culture of consumerism. Instead, they live simply. They seem to have clear understandings of the difference between wants and needs. They are able to focus their lives on the things that really matter to them because they are not slaves to material things.
As I read this article, I kept thinking about Jesus' words from the Gospel of Luke:
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. - Luke 12:27-31, NIV
While these three people who have chosen lives of frugality may or may not be people of faith, they have certainly come to understand what Jesus was talking about. They do not live by the same standards as the rest of the world. They have jumped off the treadmill of success that causes so many people to earn more so they can have more. Instead, they choose less. They choose live simply and trust that it will be enough.
My favorite quote in the article are these sentences from the last paragraph:
I emerged from these interviews with a big smile on my face. These three people were so delighted with their lives -- and excited about the future -- that it was positively contagious.
What a wonderful thought - to be delighted with one's own life. How delighted God must be when we understand that less can truly be more and that God will provide for our every need.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!
Change of Plans
The movie scheduled for this coming Friday, July 30th has been changed to "The Land Before Time: Journey to Big Water".When heavy rains create a mysterious "new water", Littlefoot sets off to explore the great Valley. He quickly becomes friends with Mo, a prank-playing dolphin-like creature who can't find his way back to the big water. Littlefoot and his prehistoric pals come to the rescue, evade a scary sharptooth and prove the value of courage, friendship and diversity in this exciting adventure.
This movie will be shown at 10:00 a.m. in the Malone Meeting Room. Bring along a snack and a drink and join us for this fun family film.