My name is David and I'm a work-a-holic..

I've seen this before but I am reading it today just after the conclusion of a funeral. This person would have been 81 today. The reality is that none of us are promised tomorrow and so it's important that we consider just how precious our time is to those whom we love. I remember being in school and having my son Chris come to my desk and ask if he could make an appointment for Saturday so that we could spend time together. This season of Advent has been very busy and the church has seen far more of me than my wife. It's time to change that because my time with her is priceless! I invite you to read and reflect...

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'

DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.

SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the man said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $25?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door..

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn't ask for money very often The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

'Are you asleep, son?' He asked.

'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.

'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the father grumbled.

'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.

'Daddy, I have $50 now.. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love.

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Antsy? No Ant-see. It's a great view!!!!

As we struggle with the various events and experiences in our lives, here is an interesting story from across the world that might help to give us a little perspective on how we can see things if we do not, or we do, trust them to God...I know if gave me something to think about...

The Child's Ant
================

God had been trying to get my attention for some months, but I was too deep in debt to hear Him. However, it took just one divinely orchestrated incident to put everything in perspective.

I had woken up early to prepare my two little daughters for school. As I tried to put the older one in the bathtub, she saw an ant right there. You would have thought she saw a viper.

All my entreaties to her to put down her feet were ignored: her greatest problem at that point was an ant. To her, an ant was a big deal, but it wasn't to me. I could easily take care of an ant any day. Then I got impatient with her for fearing an ant.

At that point, I had a MountainWings Moment! It was as if I heard an audible voice: "Is that not what you have been doing to me all these past months?"

What? You mean all the debts I thought were big enough to crush me were like that ant to God? I had to apologize for having a low impression of God.

Today, a few months later, all the debts are gone.

~A MountainWings Original by Sylvester Ojenagbon, Lagos, Nigeria~

Forward this issue to a friend or send them the link below:
http://www.mountainwings.com/past/8347.htm

Received this and it gives some perspective to how we consider ourselves in God's plans. Yes, we make mistakes and sometimes really screw up but if God can do amazing things with the folks below, what can God do with you?!?!?



Here's another thought, as we do God's work, we might also consider what God can do with the folks we've labeled because of their bad habits or characteristics.....hmmmmm


The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced,
more than once Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...

AND

Lazarus was dead!

What do you have that’s worse than that?
So no more excuses!

God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.


(Mountainwings #4289)

It was an interesting day...

On July 11, 2008 my dad died from a horrific disease Stevens Johnson Syndrome. It has no cure and they hope it works through the body and then the person gets better. In his case, it covered almost 95% of his body by the time he could fight no longer. As we walked through the next few days, I thought ahead to the "first" holidays without dad and figured they were a long way away.

On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, I realized that these past months went very quickly. As I awoke, I gave thanks that mom had come down the night before to help us get ready for the day. I think just having her around was a great way for me to prepare. We were only going to be a group of six folks but I wasn't sure what to expect. I decided I wanted to go for a run in the morning and not wanting to focus on the "pain" of running, I decided to think about dad. I began to create a list of thanks to God for how God had blessed my life through James H. Abbott Jr. Though I didn't finish the list on the road, I'd like to share what I did think of and add a few more. It won't be a complete list as I continue to reflect on the many ways that dad impacted and empowered my life, but it's a beginning.

God,

Today I give you thanks for my dad and the special times we had together...

1. For getting us involved in rabbits and though I wasn't real good about feeding and cleaning them you still shared them with me in love. I will always remember the fairs, the best of show, ohJ, the new friends we made who also showed rabbits.


2. For giving me a chance the day that Russell and I made a really dumb decision. I figured I'd be punished for weeks but you figured I had learned enough and anything you did wouldn't be beneficial. By doing nothing, you did everything.


3. For driving from Bath to Winthrop in the spring when I played baseball for the team the Gulls. We were horrible and only one two games but you were always supportive and willing to drive the hour each way to see some really bad baseball.


4. For taking me with you on those weekends when we opened Mechuwana and for being the director for three years. Had you not been the director there I am not sure if I would have come to know the power and presence of God, not only on that holy ground, but also in my life. It was at Mechuwana that I struggled with what it meant to be called by God.


5. For crying when I graduated from the University of Maine. I tell folks that was the first time I saw tears in your eyes and it meant a great deal to me as your son. I knew I had done good when I saw your smile moistened by tears. It gave me the freedom to share my tears with my boys, both of sadness and joy at very important moments in all of our lives.


6. For going to Washington DC for my Doctoral graduation. I wasn't all that interested in the event until Lisa pushed me to go and when I saw your determination I began to give thanks to God that we could share it together.


7. For your loyalty to your doctors. Though we will always disagree on it, you did show me that we've got to trust in folks, especially when we don't know. At the same time, I want to thank you for being willing to get a second opinion or two as we struggled with your cancer.


8. For teaching me that if there is something we can't fix or change, we can't let it take up our life. If we can do something about it, great, do it. If we can't, use the time to make a difference somewhere else. When I've been worried about decisions that others are making, I've let go and done other things, knowing I couldn't impact thier choice. It saved me a great deal of "worry time".


9. For supporting mom in her many ministries. You showed me that it's just as important to be the support person as it is to be the person on the move. Your grace and love of that role helped me to pull back and allow others to do "their thing". It has been a blessing as I've witnessed some amazing things.


10. For loving me as me. For telling me again and again that you loved me and for telling me whenever you could that you were proud of me. In a world where love is sometimes a scarce commodity and folks would rather tear you down than build you up, you helped me to understand that love is always in abundance and encouragement should be shared whenever you've got the chance. I end every conversation with my boys by telling them I love them and never miss a chance to let them know how awed I am at the great things they are doing.

There are many more things to which I give thanks to God for my dad and I'll continue to lift them up as often as I can. I realize that for some folks, "dad" was a word that had no meaning or only negative images. Dad and I did tussle and disagree but whenever I say "dad" my eyes tear up but my heart fills with love and thanksgiving.

Yes, the holidays are here. Yes, it is a challenge to be without him. Yes, I am very blessed to have a mom who is just as great as my dad was. And yes, if you haven't told your parents, or those who raised you, that you love them, don't waste another minute for you never know when you'll only be able to say it in a prayer.

I love you dad!

(The picture is of our family at a family reunion last summer.)

A different perspective...who is the real pane...

I received this email from "mountainwings" today that was a real eye opener. How many times have we complained about how people are doing things? How many times have we come up with just the solution they need to make their life better? As we head into this time of the year when folks are collecting food for the hungry, before we talk about those who "abuse" the system, maybe we ought to think of how we are looking at those very folks with our "Christ-like" eyes...

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?" The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. ~Author Unknown~

Psalm 23...It's more than just a reading at a funeral!

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!

For His name sake = That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death = That's Tribulations!

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!

For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =That's Hope!

Thou anointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life =That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!

Forever = That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

It's time to come back...

It's been many months since I last wrote in my blog. My dad died on July 11, 2008 and I've been trying to figure out how to walk through this event and begin to share again on the blog. I've had many good intentions but I've not had to right words to share. Today though, I want to share a connection to a PBS story about Camp Ray of Hope (Click on the words for the link) held at Mechuwana (truly sacred and healing ground in my life). I'm not involved whatsoever in the camp, though a member of the congregation I serve is, but it spoke to me of grief, loss, and building back what has been crushed and taken away. Thanks for being patient. I'll see you soon on these pages...

The Upper Room: A wonderful daily devotional to share with you.

I receive the Upper Room Devotional by email each day. Many times I quickly read through it, especially as I recognize the text upon which they are focusing. As a pastor, I've used parts of the following text in funerals to celebrate how someone with an illness or disease endured their final days. As I read through the July 10th reading this morning (I'm a little behind on things!), it spoke to me in amazing ways in relation to how we as members of the Body of Christ and the world around us should see each other. I hope you enjoy it as well. If you've like to receive this devotional on a daily basis, read all the way to the bottom. I realize there is a copyright law involved in sharing this, but I believe that they would be very happy to know that their work is helping to build God's kingdom here on earth...

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Let Us Pray with You
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Cracked Pots

Suggested Bible Reading
Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture--"I believed, and so I spoke"--we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:1-18 (NRSV)

Today's ScriptureWe have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
-2 Corinthians 4:7 (NRSV)

MY life in Christ has helped me to accept the nature of the clay jar that I am. I have weaknesses. I have strengths. For some people who know me, my strengths outweigh my weaknesses. For others, my weaknesses outweigh my good traits. But we all live somewhere between what we have been and what God is reshaping us to be.
This is an image of God's kingdom. We live in an "already-but-not-yet" time. God's salvation in Christ has already come, but it is not yet enjoyed by all people and all creation. Jesus gave us a glimpse of God's future glory, but its full realization remains future. We live between the already of what God has done and the not-yet of what God will do. The work God has begun in us is not complete.
Yet God's glory is seen clearly in our sinful, broken, imperfect humanity. "We have this treasure in clay jars." We can focus on the clay jar, or we can focus on the treasure. We can condemn each other for being a cracked, chipped, misshapen, leaky, brittle, traditional, or contemporary jar. But if we focus on the treasure, we have hope - hope for me, for you, for enemies as well as friends, for the world - because the treasure is God's extraordinary power at work in us.
Mike Ripski (Tennessee, U.S.A.)
Prayer
Dear God, fulfill your purposes in the world and in us. Amen.
Thought for the Day

Today, I will look for God's treasure in myself and others.

Prayer Focus
For the peace of God among all people

Related Reading
Companions in Christ: The Way of Transforming Discipleship (Participant's Book)Discover what spiritual formation and authentic spirituality are all about in THE WAY OF TRANSFORMING DISCIPLESHIP, the sixth title in the Companions in Christ series. Reflect on what your faith means in terms of who you are, how you must change, how you deal with pain, and how you relate to others.
The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/Copyright © 2008 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute without written permission from the publisher. http://www.upperroom.org

Are we asking the right questions????

This morning I ventured away from the sports pages of the Boston Herald and moved to the front page of the Boston Globe. I know that I should be doing this on a regular basis but I find following the moves of the Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox much more interesting. I began by reading of Senator Kennedy's return to the Senate floor to vote on the Medicare Bill and then decided to venture further into the national news of the day. It was then that I came upon this article which had me shaking my head. The argument is not whether or not the trailers are safe for human occupation but whether or not someone can be held accountable for their actions. Is there something wrong with this? Could this be one of the problems of our society today, that we don't want to accept responsibility for our actions? Or, that we don't really care about the impact of our decisions on other individuals as long as we make our profit? As we walk through the day today, I invite us to consider if we are asking the right question when making decisions. My suggestion for two possible questions would be:
1) Do we praise God with our decision?
2) Do we serve our neighbor by our actions?

If the answer to either is "No" or the decision doesn't allow for us to ask such questions, I would invite us to stop, pray, and seek God's guidance. No one should suffer from the poison of our unwillingness to make a change in our lives, even if there is a cost involved to us!

GOP backs trailer makers
Report: Firms not to blame for toxins
By Eileen Sullivan, Associated Press July 10, 2008
WASHINGTON - Manufacturers say they are not responsible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers that had toxic levels of formaldehyde, despite Democrats' findings that companies knew of the dangers yet sold them to the government anyway after Hurricane Katrina.
The report by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is at odds with an analysis by Republican staff members on the same committee. The Republican report backs the companies and found that trailer manufacturers should not be held accountable for the high levels of formaldehyde - a preservative commonly used in building materials - in trailers that FEMA set up to house people displaced by Katrina in 2005. Republicans say it is the government's fault for not having standards for safe levels of formaldehyde in trailers.
But Democrats say their staff interviewed employees from one of the manufacturers, Gulf Stream Coach, who said they, too, were suffering effects from formaldehyde exposure, including nose bleeds, shortness of breath, dizziness, and bleeding ears.
Gulf Stream Coach Inc., received the bulk of the FEMA trailer contracts after Katrina, collecting more than $500 million.
Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California and committee chairman, said the Democrats' investigation found that Gulf Stream tested the trailers, but treated the results as a public relations liability instead of a health hazard.
"It found pervasive formaldehyde contamination in its trailers, and it didn't tell anyone," Waxman said yesterday.
Jim Shea, chairman of Gulf Stream, said there was no actual testing of trailers. Instead, there was informal screening with a Formaldemeter, which is not a scientific test.
Shea said, however, that his company asked FEMA in 2006 whether it should test the trailers, but FEMA said no.
Last year, scientists tested hundreds of FEMA trailers and found potentially dangerous levels of formaldehyde.
There is no government standard for the amount of formaldehyde in travel trailers. Standards are set for indoor air quality for materials used to build mobile homes, but not travel trailers. Katrina victims now occupy 15,000 travel trailers in the Gulf Coast, down from the more than 143,000 trailers that once housed victims.

Thomas Dorsey - Precious Lord, Take My Hand

I received one of those massive emails that talked of the story behind this hymn and so I thought I'd journey to YouTube and see what I could find. Here is the story of Tommy Dorsey, his faith, and this song. It's wonderful to not only hear about a song, but to have the author share the true meaning of the words that God gave to them. Enjoy and then head to YouTube for a number of videos about "Precious Lord..." including Tommy Dorsey leading a church in the singing of the song.