team proud

what can i say about a great staff that pushes past the comfort zone on a consistent daily basis...we gathered to go to the nursing home...I mentioned, matt 25 the passage about doing things for the 'least of these' the poor, the shut in, the elderly, the unnoticed mostly underthanked people who serve the 'least of these'... i asked our team to focus on the staff, to verbalize thanks, to pray and to care...we took special flower vases, with some beautiful flowers...our ladies made some cool displays, we also took balloons, goodie bags for the staff room...and 100 boxes of tissues for the residents...

it was great to see people being cared for, people stepping out of the zone to offer prayer and to look for the lonely...one of our ladies hadn't prayed for anyone and felt drawn to the small frail receptionist so she just went for it and walked over and said 'seeing you here i was just wondering what's been going on with you?'...the receptionist told her story of becoming attached to so many people who either recover or pass away and how hard it was.' my friend asked 'can i pray for you?', the receptionist replied 'yes', as they prayed the receptionist began to weep it was a moving moment...

moments small, yet meaningful carry great care when done with great love...

way to go staff

young in mind, slow in body

ya know getting older is sometimes very strange...what the mind says i can do and what the body refuses to do is both interesting and frustrating...yesterday we had a party at a friends home, he has a pool...being the swimmer that I am, i decided to launch out into the pool by doing a graceful can opener...as i jumped my right leg cramped and i pulled a muscle...so for the rest of the day i hobbled around...my youngest son kept asking 'you ok dad?'

i think there is a saying
Ps 90:12
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

FunFest

had a great day yesterday...50+ vols helped pull our first FunFest of the season...kids and families played games, made crafts, had their faces painted and ate over 160 Hotdogs and over 120 hamburgers with all the fixings...that's a lot of food...it was a great buzz and good connection...i had more than one person who attended from the community say a big thanks for the event...

great day good vibe fun people to work with...

cars. who'd have them

last night sitting home eating some excellent pasta from Deslavos...resting on my night off when the phone rang...by the way last night major weather threats everywhere...my son phones...'dad i'm on the way to pick up the engagement ring my car just stopped i'm on the highway what should i do?' I ask a reasonable question 'did you purchased AAA like i asked you to the last time i had to drive to get the tow truck? Ans:'nope i was going to purchase AAA yesterday but... so to make a long story short...i jump into my car call AAA head south meet my son, call AAA agian, wait... car heads north on tow truck, son is dropped off at wendys i head home...

anyway in the end it was a good connection, we had a good laugh, and talk... the car? we'll see...i offered to sell him mine if he takes over the payments...

returned home to veg and saw a program of a family whose son was killed in Iraq...a touching story / moment was when the mom was making pancakes and the dad went in to be with his son...the son was under the covers, the dad laid down on the bed next to him and gave him a big hug...the mom just happened to walk in during the caring hug...made her smile...dad's reply, 'he reminded me of when he was a child, i wanted to hug him and pat him on the head so i did... i'll take the memory of our hug to my death...

car's who'd have them...memories of care, love and connection with those that matter priceless

hard days night

thinking about people who haven't made it to the end...one of my friends was on the cover of outreach magazine one month and the next month ran off to Calif...leaving his ministry, family and friends...how'd it happen? unresolved issues...

in the 70's one of the best speakers i ever heard taught on leadership at the bible college i attended...he mentioned 'you see me speak, think i'm great, but you don't know what is going on in my life'...weeks later he too was out of ministry away from family and friends...

my friend david addressed this issue in his blog http://pastordavidkerr.blogspot.com...and talked about completing the race...

Hebrews talks about casting aside 'anything' that hinders...i think it's the 'anythings' that grab us...whatever our anythings may be, sometimes it is disappointment, disappointment in our leaders, getting burned by the church, or discouragement, perhaps sin issues, or wounded ego, or general pressures etc.

I think this is why we need friends and people around us who will tell us the truth...to be honest ...i remember a movie the catch line was...'you couldn't handle the truth'... that makes for a hard days night... just musing inward... wanting to finish the race...

Our 25th is 6.6.06 maybe that's why i'm thinking...

tuesday

prepping for the weekend funfest...ever wondered why things happen when they happen...like all my stuffed animals were destroyed in the mold episode...i was planning on purchasing some new ones last week...i received a phone call from a lady who asked...'i was just wondering if you could use any stuffed animals?'...interesting that you asked...

over 50 people have signed up...for this weekend...i live to see people playing in the game...playing out there changes a heart...helps the heart to be more other centered than self centered...that's healthy...

Phil 2 sums it up NLT
1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. 3 Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4 Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. 5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

monday, monday

had a great day yesterday...the flowers everywhere experiment went well...people were buzzed about the idea and voted by taking the flowers the info sheet and some cards...i'll be looking for feed back

Starting Point our new believers class is a real riot...it is so refreshing to talk to people who have little or 0% Bible what being a believer is all about...fresh questions, interest and a willingness to learn...with this group the Da Vinci deal is a no deal...i explained that you don't base theology on fiction...Tip:reading the bible look for context, who the writer was writing to, why was the writer writing what he wrote, how does it apply to my life today...context is really important,,,

the Beginnings Class had a good response to the section on why we are an outward focused church...i basically told stories, connected to our value and showed a few video clips...again a good buzz...

i'm glad to be connected to a pretty good church...we are inching forward this week we have WOW and a church staff outreach...we will be going to a nursing home to plant some flowers, and visit and pray for the people...then we will have a bbq and an evening of worship 90mins...last wow hundreds of people showed up...always an up event...

Saturday we kick off our summer Community FunFest we go to low income areas and throw a huge party with all the fixins...food, raffle a tv, games, prizes, face painting, popcorn, snowcones etc...all begins at 10am running to about 1pm..