Bill, what a great conversation. How God's character sooooooooooooo surpasses anything that man could ever hope to achieve, demonstrated by the Cross of Christ.
While we were still sinners He died for us.
(Acts 17:30) Paul says:
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, and of this He has given assurance to all men by raising Him from the dead."
God is merciful and lovng. He is not merely a Lawgiver, unsympathetic to our condition, ruthlessly demanding obedience and subjugation. We are in truth His offspring. He has extended the invitation at the foot of the Cross. Choose wisely.
Life or Death !!
God is Good!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Who I Am
Hi everyone !
Another sharing moment.
My friend Bill and I were talking about a common theme in both our lives. We agreed we both are caregivers and have been for years. We both are at an age where we are reassessing all of it.
If you've lived long enough, you've asked yourself. Why me? How come i'm always the guy (girl) that this task falls upon? Is it worth it? Am i just spinning my wheels, enabling other people? I've had it. I'm tired of it. Let someone else do it.
Whew!! Sounds pretty glum and exhausting huh? Well, like i say, if you don't get this, you haven't lived much of life.
Okay, now for the good news. I've been through my moments of bitterness, frustration, and even anger over my "caregiver" status. Through it all, though, i've discovered a few marvelous things.
"Caregiver" or "enabler"? It's kinda like the difference between Mother Teresa and Dr. Kevorkian. Choose Life.
Yes, a stark contrast. But it gets our attention. The first represents true compassion. I believe the other grows out of pity.
Pity invites all of us to its party and leads to despair. Accept the invitation, you're hooked. True compassion, on the other hand, refuses to join the party. It offers you a ride home.
Christ says let your yes be yes and your no be no. Say yes to compassion and a resounding NO to pity. Free will is a wonderful gift. Choose wisely.
God is Good !
Another sharing moment.
My friend Bill and I were talking about a common theme in both our lives. We agreed we both are caregivers and have been for years. We both are at an age where we are reassessing all of it.
If you've lived long enough, you've asked yourself. Why me? How come i'm always the guy (girl) that this task falls upon? Is it worth it? Am i just spinning my wheels, enabling other people? I've had it. I'm tired of it. Let someone else do it.
Whew!! Sounds pretty glum and exhausting huh? Well, like i say, if you don't get this, you haven't lived much of life.
Okay, now for the good news. I've been through my moments of bitterness, frustration, and even anger over my "caregiver" status. Through it all, though, i've discovered a few marvelous things.
"Caregiver" or "enabler"? It's kinda like the difference between Mother Teresa and Dr. Kevorkian. Choose Life.
Yes, a stark contrast. But it gets our attention. The first represents true compassion. I believe the other grows out of pity.
Pity invites all of us to its party and leads to despair. Accept the invitation, you're hooked. True compassion, on the other hand, refuses to join the party. It offers you a ride home.
Christ says let your yes be yes and your no be no. Say yes to compassion and a resounding NO to pity. Free will is a wonderful gift. Choose wisely.
God is Good !
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Caution, Sharp Curves Ahead
A new day. Every one of them is precious. Even a bad day can have a bright moment. Maybe on that day, you're it. So find a Bright Spot in you.
He's there somewhere even on bad days. When you think you're really wacked out, you're not. God is just changing gears 'cause maybe there's a dangerous curve ahead. Slow down.
God is good.
He's there somewhere even on bad days. When you think you're really wacked out, you're not. God is just changing gears 'cause maybe there's a dangerous curve ahead. Slow down.
God is good.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Politics, Yuck
hey there,
to my friend Bill, what a great conversation again. Always enlightening and entertaining.
My friend Bill and I covered religion, business and politics. Okay, so bottom line it's all pretty much politics. Life is filled with politics but the message of Christ is that politics is not Life. God says be innocent as a dove and wise as a serpent. Let's just not walk through life with our heads stuck in the sand.
In this lifetime there will never be lasting peace and think not that life is fair. IT IS NOT!
But politics isn't all bad. It can play a role in keeping the peace.(To the degree that it is possible here) Christ says, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.(paraphrase) Christ recognizes politics as a legitimate part of our existence. We just manage to corrupt everything we get our hands on.
I hate politics as much as the next guy, but it's probably the corruptive factor that turns our stomachs. It seems we are always choosing between the lesser of two evils.
I hate when that happens.
God is Good.
to my friend Bill, what a great conversation again. Always enlightening and entertaining.
My friend Bill and I covered religion, business and politics. Okay, so bottom line it's all pretty much politics. Life is filled with politics but the message of Christ is that politics is not Life. God says be innocent as a dove and wise as a serpent. Let's just not walk through life with our heads stuck in the sand.
In this lifetime there will never be lasting peace and think not that life is fair. IT IS NOT!
But politics isn't all bad. It can play a role in keeping the peace.(To the degree that it is possible here) Christ says, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.(paraphrase) Christ recognizes politics as a legitimate part of our existence. We just manage to corrupt everything we get our hands on.
I hate politics as much as the next guy, but it's probably the corruptive factor that turns our stomachs. It seems we are always choosing between the lesser of two evils.
I hate when that happens.
God is Good.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
"It's Friday but Sunday's Coming"
Hi friends and family,
I've been thinking about "trial by fire". Bummer. There are just times when there is no way out of a situation. Can't build a bridge, can't dig a tunnel,(just deepens the hole you're in),can't fly overhead, can't go around. We just can't bluff our way through. The only way to the other side is straight through it. Ouch!! The "how to" is the real question.
It is amazing yet typical for us to try all of the above before we come to terms with "navigating through". Often by that time, we have created more chaos and even greater obstacles. Navigation through the mess seems even more impossible.
Have you asked yourself; "Do I really want to get to the other side"? Not really, just want things to go back to the way they were. (Good luck with that)
I think that one of the most valuable life lessons has been to decide first of all to face trials head on. Secondly to look forward with anticipation (rather than dread). (that means i'm going to change too) It takes courage! Courage comes from a faith set in Example. A Perfect Example. We're given a Vision.
"It's Friday, but Sunday's coming". This expression refers to the Friday before Easter Sunday. The dark days of Christ's trial and scourging (I hate that part), followed by His Resurrection. What an Example of Love. With Love, there's always a plan.
Is it Friday? Sunday's coming !!!
God is Good.
I've been thinking about "trial by fire". Bummer. There are just times when there is no way out of a situation. Can't build a bridge, can't dig a tunnel,(just deepens the hole you're in),can't fly overhead, can't go around. We just can't bluff our way through. The only way to the other side is straight through it. Ouch!! The "how to" is the real question.
It is amazing yet typical for us to try all of the above before we come to terms with "navigating through". Often by that time, we have created more chaos and even greater obstacles. Navigation through the mess seems even more impossible.
Have you asked yourself; "Do I really want to get to the other side"? Not really, just want things to go back to the way they were. (Good luck with that)
I think that one of the most valuable life lessons has been to decide first of all to face trials head on. Secondly to look forward with anticipation (rather than dread). (that means i'm going to change too) It takes courage! Courage comes from a faith set in Example. A Perfect Example. We're given a Vision.
"It's Friday, but Sunday's coming". This expression refers to the Friday before Easter Sunday. The dark days of Christ's trial and scourging (I hate that part), followed by His Resurrection. What an Example of Love. With Love, there's always a plan.
Is it Friday? Sunday's coming !!!
God is Good.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
I have so many things to say, but lately i'm having trouble putting it out there. That's usually not like me.
This "season" of my life is an awesome time. Even on the "not so good" days, it's a terrific time. I feel i've come full circle. I suppose i'm still trying to define what that means. I've been processing so many life experiences this last year or two. I've always been thoughtful about such things. Looking and learning, wanting to understand, but never from this vantage point.
The scripture comes to mind:
"All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose". It is meaningful to observe that He doesn't say that all GOOD things come together .... There's the good, the bad and the ugly. It's a mystery for sure. Each one of those things is part of the tapestry we call life.
Some days I really see the Beauty of it all. Our lives woven into a beautiful thing. But some days not so much. Especially when it feels like it's all hanging by a thread. Hahahahah. Get it? Thread, tapestry? hahahahahahahaha! Sorry, i digress.
But here i am. Happy, at peace with my Creator, myself, and (my fellow man, as much as is possible).
God is Good!
This "season" of my life is an awesome time. Even on the "not so good" days, it's a terrific time. I feel i've come full circle. I suppose i'm still trying to define what that means. I've been processing so many life experiences this last year or two. I've always been thoughtful about such things. Looking and learning, wanting to understand, but never from this vantage point.
The scripture comes to mind:
"All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose". It is meaningful to observe that He doesn't say that all GOOD things come together .... There's the good, the bad and the ugly. It's a mystery for sure. Each one of those things is part of the tapestry we call life.
Some days I really see the Beauty of it all. Our lives woven into a beautiful thing. But some days not so much. Especially when it feels like it's all hanging by a thread. Hahahahah. Get it? Thread, tapestry? hahahahahahahaha! Sorry, i digress.
But here i am. Happy, at peace with my Creator, myself, and (my fellow man, as much as is possible).
God is Good!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Hawaiian Princess
To all my friends out there. Aaaaalooooha.
As i get older, my life becomes a journey back to my roots. I remember the little hawaiian girl romping on the beaches of the islands, soaking up the sun, strumming her ukelele, surfing the waves, picking mangos, and all manner of tropical fruit and enjoying all the wonderful things that come with living on an island paradise. Wow. My memories of "home" really hit me sometimes in waves of nostalgia. How amazing, that in the middle of all that family dysfunction, the beauty and awe of some of God's greatest handywork did not go unappreciated or unnoticed by this little hawaiian princess. Thank you Lord.
God is Good!
As i get older, my life becomes a journey back to my roots. I remember the little hawaiian girl romping on the beaches of the islands, soaking up the sun, strumming her ukelele, surfing the waves, picking mangos, and all manner of tropical fruit and enjoying all the wonderful things that come with living on an island paradise. Wow. My memories of "home" really hit me sometimes in waves of nostalgia. How amazing, that in the middle of all that family dysfunction, the beauty and awe of some of God's greatest handywork did not go unappreciated or unnoticed by this little hawaiian princess. Thank you Lord.
God is Good!
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