Brandon came over last night after he got back from Christmas in Nebraska. He was REALLY wound up!! He was talking up a storm and laughing - oh I love his laugh!!!
Brandon loved his gift cards which provide two very important things for him - gas for his car and food for his belly!! He was especially excited that he could eat at places other than Bueno. Not that Bueno is bad but he likes a little variety. Bueno is good but most importantly - CHEAP!!!
I told Brandon that later in life when he is married, I hope his wife gets a Christmas present like Danna got this year. Brandon asked "Gas logs?????".
I told him about my office Christmas party. Not long after we got there, I was introducing Danna to one of our managers whom she had not met before. Alisha had just recently returned from her honeymoon. Alisha told Danna it was very nice to meet her. She then told Danna that I talk about her a lot at the office. Then came the Christmas present. Alisha told Danna "He loves you so much!!"
I do hope and pray that Brandon is able to give presents like this to his wife. Even though teenagers don't often listen, you know they hear. Often, things stick in their brains and you don't even know it. We talk often about God and what he is doing in our lives. I pray that Brandon gives the same kind of present to God that I am praying for him to give to his future wife.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Early Christmas Present
I had a rough conversation with B on Thursday. He told me at the end of the conversation that he wasn't going to go to dinner with us on Friday, as planned. He uses his lack of presence as a means to punish me.
On Friday while Danna and I were playing golf, Nan called and said a lady came by See's. Nan asked if she could help her. The lady said no but mentioned that one of her employees from the store at the mall said his grandparents were working so she just stopped to say hello.
It made Nan's day. I could tell she was just beaming even though I was only on the phone.
I called Brandon and left him a message telling him how much it meant to Nan and Don and that I was very proud of him.
He did meet us for dinner.
On Friday while Danna and I were playing golf, Nan called and said a lady came by See's. Nan asked if she could help her. The lady said no but mentioned that one of her employees from the store at the mall said his grandparents were working so she just stopped to say hello.
It made Nan's day. I could tell she was just beaming even though I was only on the phone.
I called Brandon and left him a message telling him how much it meant to Nan and Don and that I was very proud of him.
He did meet us for dinner.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Money, Muslims and Christians
I recently participated in several conversations about a Muslim man who made a generous gift to an organization with Christian goals and ideals.
One of several comments made was how in years past, a gift like this would have been refused by many (most?) Christian religious organizations. I see this position as ludicrous!! When we talk about our money not being ours but God's, I guess that doesn't apply to other people's money? It seems to me we are refusing God's money!!
What if someone won the lottery or made money from a "gentleman's club" or whatever and wanted to give that money to church? Why would any church refuse it? I know there would be plenty of talk if they did!!! In my opinion, if we refuse that type of a gift, we are in effect saying that our money is more holy than others. Even though God loves them, it is OK if we don't.
Another comment that really caused me to think was that Muslims want to change the world. They are all committed to eliminating the infidel. I really don't believe that.
Many non-Christians believe all Christians are the same - they want to change the world. I KNOW that is not true. It struck me that it is sad that we are not the same in that we are not always trying to make a difference in this world in the name of Jesus.
I guess I am sad that all Christians are not what we ought to be (especially me!!). I am thankful that God is patient. I wonder if I talk about God's patience when he is really disgusted with me?
I am grateful that not all Muslims are committed to destroying anyone they refer to as infidels. I am grateful there are different kinds of Muslims at the same time I know there shouldn't be different kinds of Christians.
I pray that I will be more bold and all Christians will be more bold in speaking and showing Jesus. I pray our love of others, including Muslims, will be so evident that they will have to find out why we are able to love that way - that they will find Jesus through us.
One of several comments made was how in years past, a gift like this would have been refused by many (most?) Christian religious organizations. I see this position as ludicrous!! When we talk about our money not being ours but God's, I guess that doesn't apply to other people's money? It seems to me we are refusing God's money!!
What if someone won the lottery or made money from a "gentleman's club" or whatever and wanted to give that money to church? Why would any church refuse it? I know there would be plenty of talk if they did!!! In my opinion, if we refuse that type of a gift, we are in effect saying that our money is more holy than others. Even though God loves them, it is OK if we don't.
Another comment that really caused me to think was that Muslims want to change the world. They are all committed to eliminating the infidel. I really don't believe that.
Many non-Christians believe all Christians are the same - they want to change the world. I KNOW that is not true. It struck me that it is sad that we are not the same in that we are not always trying to make a difference in this world in the name of Jesus.
I guess I am sad that all Christians are not what we ought to be (especially me!!). I am thankful that God is patient. I wonder if I talk about God's patience when he is really disgusted with me?
I am grateful that not all Muslims are committed to destroying anyone they refer to as infidels. I am grateful there are different kinds of Muslims at the same time I know there shouldn't be different kinds of Christians.
I pray that I will be more bold and all Christians will be more bold in speaking and showing Jesus. I pray our love of others, including Muslims, will be so evident that they will have to find out why we are able to love that way - that they will find Jesus through us.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
I Listened - Well, at least once.
After church today, I saw a lady who had just buried her Mom right before Thanksgiving.
As I walked past her while she was talking to a couple, I noticed her eyes first and how tired and hurt they looked. Her eyes were surrounded by a face that was waving the white flag.
I stopped, turned around and went back. I didn't say anything as I walked up and intruded in the little group of three that were talking. I just gave her a hug. As I started to hug her, she said "Thank you, I needed that." I just kept hugging her. As I could sense her starting to tear up, I teared up as well. I finally looked at her and said just a few words. I told her I was sorry.
I was taught by many people after my Dad died that no one has the words to say. We often don't approach someone for fear we will say the wrong thing. Sometimes, when we do approach them, we walk away wondering why we said something so stupid.
Communication is so much more than words. Why do we so often insist on using them?
As I walked past her while she was talking to a couple, I noticed her eyes first and how tired and hurt they looked. Her eyes were surrounded by a face that was waving the white flag.
I stopped, turned around and went back. I didn't say anything as I walked up and intruded in the little group of three that were talking. I just gave her a hug. As I started to hug her, she said "Thank you, I needed that." I just kept hugging her. As I could sense her starting to tear up, I teared up as well. I finally looked at her and said just a few words. I told her I was sorry.
I was taught by many people after my Dad died that no one has the words to say. We often don't approach someone for fear we will say the wrong thing. Sometimes, when we do approach them, we walk away wondering why we said something so stupid.
Communication is so much more than words. Why do we so often insist on using them?
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Is Listening Different Than Hearing?
I find us very interesting. We can be apart from each other for long periods of time and go on as if time stood still when we are good friends. What allows people to become good friends? Sometimes we say that opposites attract. Sometimes we talk about what we have in common. Which is correct? Are they both correct?
What causes people who have developed a close friendship to lose what they developed? From my point of view, it has a lot to do with the ears. I believe our sense of hearing has been incredibly dulled. We have noise going on around us all the time. We have televisions with so many channels we can surf endlessly and still not find "something to watch". We won't turn it off just to sit in silence. We have radios in our cars. Mine has the satellite radio so that, just like my TV, I can surf endlessly and still get frustrated that I have "nothing to listen to".
We don't listen to our friends. We barely even hear them because we are thinking of the next thing we are going to say. We don't really listen to what they say because we don't really hear the clues they are giving that they are hurting.
We don't listen to ourselves when we know we are bothered by something we need to discuss with them. Our silence causes us to begin to resent them in a small way. If we do finally say something, it is often at a time when we have "had enough" and we explode. Explosions, even controlled explosions, are messy. Explosions can eat away at our friendships. If we don't eventually decide to say something, we just grow distant. You can't love someone from a distance.
It seems to me that my relationship with God is lacking because I don't listen to him. When I hear him, I don't do what he wants me to do. Hearing and listening are two different things to me. The other day I passed a car which had its flashers on and was sitting in one lane of the two going in the direction I was going. There were a few people sitting in the car. They looked like kids, definitley not adults. No one was in the drivers seat. I thought I should stop and help push the car. As I kept driving, I thought that I might scare them if I stopped. (You know I can be very intimidating!) I kept driving, wondering. As I got about a 1/2 mile down the road, I saw an older gentleman running back toward the car with a gas can which he had obviously filled up at the station nearby. I thought I should turn around and give him a ride back to the car. Again, I just kept driving and thinking that he would be back there before I could turn around, get back to him, pick him up and take him back to the car. I heard God telling me to help others. As I often do, I didn't listen.
I wonder why God is so patient with me??
What causes people who have developed a close friendship to lose what they developed? From my point of view, it has a lot to do with the ears. I believe our sense of hearing has been incredibly dulled. We have noise going on around us all the time. We have televisions with so many channels we can surf endlessly and still not find "something to watch". We won't turn it off just to sit in silence. We have radios in our cars. Mine has the satellite radio so that, just like my TV, I can surf endlessly and still get frustrated that I have "nothing to listen to".
We don't listen to our friends. We barely even hear them because we are thinking of the next thing we are going to say. We don't really listen to what they say because we don't really hear the clues they are giving that they are hurting.
We don't listen to ourselves when we know we are bothered by something we need to discuss with them. Our silence causes us to begin to resent them in a small way. If we do finally say something, it is often at a time when we have "had enough" and we explode. Explosions, even controlled explosions, are messy. Explosions can eat away at our friendships. If we don't eventually decide to say something, we just grow distant. You can't love someone from a distance.
It seems to me that my relationship with God is lacking because I don't listen to him. When I hear him, I don't do what he wants me to do. Hearing and listening are two different things to me. The other day I passed a car which had its flashers on and was sitting in one lane of the two going in the direction I was going. There were a few people sitting in the car. They looked like kids, definitley not adults. No one was in the drivers seat. I thought I should stop and help push the car. As I kept driving, I thought that I might scare them if I stopped. (You know I can be very intimidating!) I kept driving, wondering. As I got about a 1/2 mile down the road, I saw an older gentleman running back toward the car with a gas can which he had obviously filled up at the station nearby. I thought I should turn around and give him a ride back to the car. Again, I just kept driving and thinking that he would be back there before I could turn around, get back to him, pick him up and take him back to the car. I heard God telling me to help others. As I often do, I didn't listen.
I wonder why God is so patient with me??
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Wasted Energy
Is it ever inappropriate to study the Bible?
I say . . .
YES
I know that I have to explain.
Do you ever wonder how much time is wasted in trying to convince other people, through scripture, who profess to be Christians as well, that their position is wrong?
What if we all "took captive" the thoughts of trying to change somone else's interpretation and speak about Jesus? What kind of difference would it make in that relationship?
What kind of difference would it make to the world who does not know Jesus?
Are the lost not worth us swallowing our pride, admitting we don't have all the answers and trying to show them Jesus?
I say . . .
YES
I know that I have to explain.
Do you ever wonder how much time is wasted in trying to convince other people, through scripture, who profess to be Christians as well, that their position is wrong?
What if we all "took captive" the thoughts of trying to change somone else's interpretation and speak about Jesus? What kind of difference would it make in that relationship?
What kind of difference would it make to the world who does not know Jesus?
Are the lost not worth us swallowing our pride, admitting we don't have all the answers and trying to show them Jesus?
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Saturday, January 07, 2006
About a year ago, I had a former co-worker request that I take them off the daily quote list. The reason is that the person said they did not believe in God. They wanted to make sure we would still be friends.
I said that of course we would still be friends. Now, a year later, we are cow-workers again. I started this week at my new job. I started sending the daily quote out to everyone in my new office. I waited till the afternoon to see if I would receive an email asking to be taken off the list. I didn't. I did not receive a visit to my office.
I wanted to make sure I had not offended. I went to their office and said that I had sent an email to the whole office. The response - "I know". I started to stammer that I wanted to make sure everything was OK. The response - "You are being squirrelly!"
I asked many of you to pray a year ago when the "take me off" request first happened. I prayed - but soon quit, I am ashamed to admit. I am praying again. God has stirred. Please pray as well.
Why do I give up so easily on Him?
I said that of course we would still be friends. Now, a year later, we are cow-workers again. I started this week at my new job. I started sending the daily quote out to everyone in my new office. I waited till the afternoon to see if I would receive an email asking to be taken off the list. I didn't. I did not receive a visit to my office.
I wanted to make sure I had not offended. I went to their office and said that I had sent an email to the whole office. The response - "I know". I started to stammer that I wanted to make sure everything was OK. The response - "You are being squirrelly!"
I asked many of you to pray a year ago when the "take me off" request first happened. I prayed - but soon quit, I am ashamed to admit. I am praying again. God has stirred. Please pray as well.
Why do I give up so easily on Him?
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