thoughts on the news of the day: new year

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            What a difference a day makes!  Yesterday was all about the end of the Christmas season and the melancholy that takes over when the decorations have to come down and the party seems to be over.  But wait …. It’s not.  Tonight at midnight, the crystal ball will drop in Times Square in New York City and we will celebrate the arrival of 2011 with lots of fireworks and festivities.

            What preparations have you made for the arrival of the new year?  Are your black eyed peas bought and ready to cook?  Do you have the T.V. remote ready to turn to the Rose Bowl Parade tomorrow morning?  Have you listed the resolutions for the coming year that you will probably keep next week and then discard like last week’s tinsel off the tree?

            The end of 2010 is here. And a new year is waiting for our hopes, our goals, our dreams of things to come. Take a minute or two today to review the accomplishments of 2010 and set new goals for 2011.  Is your new year’s planning and preparation all about doing and things, or have you searched your heart to determine what beyond yourself will be important for 2011? 

            Losing weight and getting my finances in order are always at the top of my list of resolutions for the new year; but this year, I am also asking God for renewed strength.  Perhaps God can change my heart – in ways I never expected – and the new year can be one of prosperity and hope – not only for me, but for the people who’s lives I touch.

            What are your resolutions for the new year?  Whose life will you touch?

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thougths on the news of the day: kodachrome

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            Remember when digital cameras didn’t exist and film had to be developed at a lab?  You had to wait for days to get your pictures of the latest holiday or trip developed.  Those days are gone forever.  Kodak discontinued kodachrome last year and in a small town named Parsons, Kansas, Dwayne’s Photo shop is processing the very last rolls of kodachrome film today.

            Paul Simon’s song Kodachrome reminds us that color film gives us “those nice bright colors; they give us the greens of summer; makes you think all the world’s a sunny day (oh yeah)”.

            Actually, I am not feeling like the world’s a sunny day today. I could really sing, “Mama don’t take my kodachrome away”.  It’s a sad day, really when one more remnant of the past departs forever.  Besides, Christmas is over; it’s time to take down the tree and box up all the decorations.  All of my company is gone and while the new year awaits, I just can’t get excited about it; at least not yet.  It feels like nothing will change and it will always be the day after Christmas.

            But in reality, everything changes.  Technology has left the film processing business behind and now Christmas 2010 is just a memory.  Sometimes you just have to hold onto the fact that while things might seem a little lonely at the moment, it won’t always be that way.

            So I’ll look over the photos of the holiday and take a mental snapshot of the happy times we had and I’ll remember that there will always be good times ahead.

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thoughts on the news of the day: softness

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            Today my internet connection is not working.  This happens every so often in the mountains here in northern Arkansas.  So I am not up to the minute on the news of the day.  But I can look outside and see that it is raining.  Not pouring, just a damp drizzle that softens the landscape and hazes the horizon. 

            Softness, that is what I am working toward for next year.  I would like for God (and maybe me) to soften all my hard edges.  Sometimes I have an edge that is not so pleasant to be around.  Not many people see it; I am usually able to hide it from almost everyone but my closet friends. 

            The hardness of life gets inside us and gives us edges that don’t always reflect the most beautiful things.  We get impatient, agitated, annoyed because life is sometimes hard.  And it makes us stiff and difficult.

            Rigidity is not so good.  In fact, I heard a psychologist say that inflexibility is a good definition of insanity.  When we are unable to allow life around us to permeate into us, then it can make us pretty crazy.  Now, that is not to say we should not have emotional boundaries.  Boundaries are good; they help us to know where we end and someone else begins.  It’s that “good fences make good neighbors” thing.

            But for 2011, I am going for softness -- for an easy touch, a gentle manner, a kind demeanor.  If I can accomplish that, it will be a good year!

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thoughts on the news of the day: sunshine

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            Apparently folks in the eastern seaboard are still digging themselves out of a horrendous snow storm; but that hasn’t stopped shoppers there from getting out to explore the after Christmas sales.  It’s sunny today here in Eastern Oklahoma, where I have come to visit my dad and get in a little after Christmas shopping myself.  The selection is not that great in our little country town, so we hit the “big city” every once in a while to take in some restaurants, a good movie and, of course, some shopping. 

            When I was in college in Denton, Texas, I used to go downtown Dallas and visit the Neiman Marcus store.  Even their sale racks were completely out of my price range, so I pretended that it was a museum.  I imagined that everything was just for looking and not for purchasing.  It worked out and I didn’t feel so deprived or intimidated.  The store actually had some very interesting wares and I could spend a whole afternoon there admiring the exquisite merchandise.

            We don’t have to acquire something to appreciate it.  In fact, there are many things, like sunshine, that we can never really contain or control.  I am guessing that the folks back east are wishing right about now that they could bottle up some of our southern sunshine and import it there.  But of course, they can’t.  So once again, we are left with gratitude that today sunshine is ours for the taking.  God is in the heavens and all is well.

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thoughts on the news of the day: legacy

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            Three post-octogenarians are listed in a major national newspaper today. Carlos Andres Perez was the former President of Venezuela and he died at 88; Karen Tuttle was a violist and teacher who died at 90; and Bud Greenspan who filmed many Olympic champions in documentaries died at 84.  They will each be remembered by family and friends in addition to being acknowledged nationally.

            What will your legacy be?  If you live to be 80+ will anything of note be recorded upon your passing?  Lots of folks have asked this question in lots of ways.  Some even go as far as to recommend writing your own obituary to acknowledge the events of your life. 

            It might be fun here at the end of the decade to make a wish list of what you hope will be your lifetime achievements. If you could accomplish anything during your lifetime, what would it be?  I imagine all of us would say something like “world peace”.  But beyond that, would you want to be identified as a successful and loving parent?  Would you list your church or volunteer work?  Would you want your education accomplishments to be stated?

            Would you say how much money you made in your lifetime? It’s a funny question to ask, but isn’t that what we focus so much of our time and energy on – our ability to earn income?  Then, again,  you never hear someone say, “I wish I had spent more time at the office” at the end of their life.

            Today make a list of what you wish to accomplish next year – and then, get on with it!

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thoughts on the news of the day: the day after

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            There is a man named Walter Breunig who has spent 114 Christmases on the planet.  Yes, this man was born on September 21, 1896 and is thought to be the oldest man in the world.  He remembers Christmases at the Methodist church as a young child where he received a little holiday box with a couple of nuts and a piece of candy.  His family was poor and many Christmases that was all he was given.

            What will your memories of this Christmas be? And will you or anyone else remember them 100 years from now – or even one year from now?  It’s easy to get depressed the day after Christmas.  There were so many expectations about how the day would go that in the aftermath  the blues can over take us.

            But maybe a good way to combat that sadness is to write some thank you notes.  I bet you could make a list of ten or even twenty people you could thank for gifts received this Christmas season.  My mom always sat us down the day or so after Christmas and we wrote notes of thanks to relatives who had extended the kindness of a toy or a candy gift.  It gave us a chance to re-live the excitement of opening the present and to pause long enough to realize again what Christmas was really all about… the gift of love.

            I hope that if I live to be a 100, I will still be writing notes to say thank you at Christmas.

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thoughts on the news of the day: Merry Christmas!

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            Today’s news is that it is Christmas.  Today no new wars broke out.  Today as far as I can tell no one in our community was killed by a gun or a car.  No sirens are blaring for health emergencies.  It is a soft, quiet, peaceful Christmas morning.  I even checked facebook this morning.  Everyone’s message is one of good cheer.  Wouldn’t it be great if Christmas was celebrated every day?  I don’t mean the presents and the hoopla; I mean the joy, the peace, the hope of good things to come.

            Now, I am not so naïve as to think that all is goodness and light all over the world.  One of my facebook friends wrote that he was leaving in a minute to go to work; he fights fires for a living.  Hopefully he will have a quiet day but you never know in that business.  Another friend is a nurse who will be pulling a double shift over the Christmas weekend.  Then there’s my friend who is an undertaker.  What a sad day it will be if she is called into work.  We all know someone who is sacrificing today so that we can celebrate in peace.

            Take a moment then, in the hustle and bustle, in the excitement of the day to say thank you.  Say thank you to friends and family who brought presents but also bring joy to your life everyday. Say thank you to those who sacrifice so that we can be assured of safety today: firefighters, police officers, our armed forces all over the world.  Say thank you to medical teams who stand ready to serve when the need arises.  And most of all, take a moment to say thank you that a tiny baby came to our little planet to teach us the way of love and gratitude.

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thoughts on the news of the day: Christmas Eve

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            Today is Christmas Eve.  It’s a day of anticipation and expectation.  Hopefully at your house all the presents are purchased and wrapped and all the groceries are bought in hopes of a great feast with family tomorrow. 

            My Christmas festivities are a little different.  For fifteen years I have worked on Christmas Eve.  In every church I have served, we have always had a Christmas Eve service and that takes preparation and time.  It has probably not been as hard on me as it has been on the preacher’s kid (aka P.K.) who lived in my home for many years and still celebrates Christmas with me. 

            I remember another P.K. who told me the story of eating hot dogs on Christmas Day because his Pastor Dad was busy visiting other families.  It has never been that bad in our home but I will say that we have had some interesting Christmas feasts.  One year my daughter wanted to have a picnic for Christmas.  So we spread a quilt on the floor, lined up all her dolls around the edges and had fried chicken nuggets for dinner.  Remember the little toy that had fishes that reached up and gobbled at a magnet on a fishing pole?  Well, we went fishing after the picnic on Christmas Day and never had to leave our living room!

            So, this Christmas may not be an ideal one for you.  In fact, like some of the elderly folks in my congregation, you may even have to spend it alone.  But no matter what you do, remember that you are not ever really all by yourself.  There is a God up in the heavens who loves you and wants the best of New Years for you …

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thoughts on the news of the day: handmade

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            There’s an article today on the web about why the iPad might not be such a great idea.  Apparently this year’s new computer tablet is one of the hottest Christmas presents around.  The writer of the article thinks they are too expensive and will be much cheaper next year; having computer games is not such a good idea because they are so addictive; and it’s easy to waste time surfing the web with it.  That’s the writer’s opinion.  I haven’t made up my mind yet about whether they are good or bad but I’m pretty sure that my brother who lives in a monastery will love the one my family purchased for him for Christmas.

            But not in the same way he loved the quilt I made him for his birthday last year.  My daughter and I are in the quilt business so to speak.  Ours are not the elaborate, complicated patch affairs; no, they are simple blocks loving sewn together and hand tacked.  We can make one in a few days; not like the complicated type that take months or even years to finish.

            My daughter’s rough and tumble, hunting and fishing, man-cave type boyfriend asked me to make him a quilt for Christmas.  We could have bought a finished one for half the price on the internet, but he wanted something that was lovingly handmade and one of a kind.  So, my daughter and I are scrambling to finish the one we have selected just for him.

            Techno-toys are great.  They make wonderful presents.  But a hand made gift? There’ll never be another one like it.

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thoughts on the news of the day: the Christmas Spirit

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            “I think people need something they can save,” that’s what a long time Hallmark card artist says.  Mary Hamilton, who has spent 55 years drawing and painting designs for Hallmark cards, knows how to spread the Christmas Spirit.  In a digital throwaway world, hard copy cards still seem to hang on.  We want to have a tangible symbol for an intangible idea.

            I have been thinking about what it means to have the “Christmas Spirit”.  My dad, who turned 90 last summer, told me a few days ago that he was having a hard time getting into the Christmas Spirit.  It has been that way for him since my Mom passed away a couple of years ago.  But a few presents, boxes of candy and phone calls have helped him to recapture the same joy that my Mom used to share when she was alive.

            My sister sent me a couple of “forwards” this morning.  I don’t generally even open the email marked “Fw:” that my friends and family send me.  There’s just not enough time to read them all. But these two made the cut.  And in their quaint but endearing tales of generosity, they reminded me once again that the Christmas Spirit is not a tangible thing.  It’s not so much about what we get really.  It’s about what we give.  And that feeling that we get from giving is even more savable than the Hallmark card we put back to enjoy next Christmas. 

            So, if you haven’t gotten the Christmas Spirit yet, reach out to someone in kindness and fellowship.  And share God greatest gift, the love God has for us.

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thoughts on the news of the day: the common cold

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            It takes 48 hours to get the common cold once you have been exposed to it.  Exercise may be the best preventative for a cold and orange juice pretty much doesn’t work.  Echinacea and hot tea are good; lack of sleep not so good.  The average person gets 200 colds in their lifetime.  These are some of the facts about the adenovirus 36, also known as one of the viruses that cause the common cold.  One other interesting fact about a cold virus is that it might make you fat!  A study found that children who had colds were on the average heavier than those who didn’t.

            So far, medical science hasn’t found a true cure for the common cold.  We have many ways to treat it, but no real cures.  We continue to sneeze and sniffle drinking Mom’s chicken noodle soup as we suffer.  Allowing it to run its course is probably the best way to escape a cold.  It just takes time.

            And that’s true of most healing.  Whether it’s physical, mental or emotional pain; one of the most important components in healing is time.  Now I am not advocating dismissal of doctors and healers of all kinds.  Ultimately, I believe that God alone heals. But God uses doctors and medicine, too.  And God uses the passage of time. 

            My prayer for you today is that no matter what your condition or ailment, God will give you all the time you need to heal.

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thoughts on the news of the day: integrity

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            Brianna Lamar is one lucky 14-year old.  She was born cocaine addicted and HIV positive but thanks to good doctors and medicine, has lived a full and healthy life.  Raised by her grandparents, she is not shy to tell anyone about her illness.  Nearly everyone she meets quickly hears about her affliction.  She does not try to hide it in anyway.  In fact, she is so vocal and so healthy that she has been nominated to be a “Champion” of the Children’s Miracle Network.

            Actually, this young teenage girl has what many adults only wish they had and that is integrity.  She knows who she is and she is not afraid to identify herself to anyone who will listen; she has that special quality of being who she says she is.  Even when she was little, she clearly identified herself as HIV positive, in spite of the fact that she knew that many people would shun her. 

            I have heard it said that a good definition of integrity is when your insides match your outsides.  That is, when our actions match our true thoughts and feelings.  It’s is not so hard to do when all is going well in our lives.  It is much more difficult when we are challenged or confronted by people who don’t agree with us. 

            Do you live with integrity?  Are you able to identify your feelings and act upon what you think and feel?  It’s not so easy, but it makes life so much simpler.

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thoughts on the news of the day: diary

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            As you look back over 2010, what comes to mind?  The Haiti Earthquake?  The Gulf Oil Spill?  The World Cup?  The Chilean Mine Rescue?  All important stories that impact our world and in many ways influence our lives.

            What would you write as the top ten stories of your life in 2010?  Would it be about new jobs, new relationships, new adventures, or new births?  We often mark time through events, those things that happen to us, or to people we know.   And as we look back over the year how do we feel?  Sad?  Joyous? Grateful? Angry?   

            I visited a retro “five and dime” store recently and among the Roy Rogers lunch boxes and John Deere ball caps, I found a diary.  You know, the old school kind; it had the days of the year marked on its pages and was complete with the lock and the key. 

            Do you keep a journal, a diary?  It’s a wonderful way to be in touch with our life.  We can say things to a piece of paper or a computer screen that we would never dream of saying out loud.  Our true feelings about issues and people can bounce onto the page with no reaction and no recrimination. 

            Then there’s the God part.  It’s fun to look back and see where God had a hand in even the most mundane of activities.  But that is difficult without a written accounting of things wished for and things received.

            Perhaps in 2011, you could consider writing a journal of events and feelings that affect your life. No one has to read it. No one has to know. And it certainly doesn’t have to be well written.  Mostly, it just has to be honest.

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thoughts on the news of the day: payback

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            The state of California received a $10,000 check from a South Carolina retiree.  It’s a token of appreciation for the unemployment benefits he received back in 1964.  The money will be used for financial assistance to public schools of California as required by state law. 

            Payback – it’s what we all want and it’s what we all need to give.  We want other people to repay us whether it’s in money or time or energy expended.  We think we are owed for the debts borrowed by others.

            But what about what we owe others?  Do we owe our parents a debt of gratitude for all they did to get us raised and on our way in life?  Do we owe our public schools anything for the education given to us for virtually nothing?  Do we owe the military men and women of our country anything for their service and sacrifice for our great nation?  Is there any debt we need to repay that weighs on our mind and heart?

            Guilt is a weight that wears on our conscience and is mostly unnecessary if we make our amends as soon as we are able.  Now, the retiree is actually not repaying a debt; or is he?  Did he pay the money back because he felt guilty or because he felt grateful?  Probably a little of both. 

            If you owe a debt that needs to be repaid, this Christmas season could be the time to make someone’s day – pay it back – you might be glad you did.

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thoughts on the news of the day: amygdala

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            Living without fear?  Wonderful?  Maybe not.  A 44 year old mother of three is being studied at the University of Iowa because she has a medical condition that causes her not to feel any fear.  The specific psychological impairment is the result of a rare disease that damaged a structure in the brain called amygdala.  In spite of its appeal, living without any fear at all can be dangerous.  For example, what if you were not afraid to jump off that bridge, or handle that poisonous snake? I think we all want to live without being afraid.  But a healthy awareness of danger is different, and important.   

            Ok.. I have to confess, I got into a little fear myself this morning.  My internet connection was not working and I panicked.  My connection with the world was severed, or so I thought.  But that was just a self-centered fear that I wouldn’t get something I wanted. I have heard it said that most fear boils down to one of two things:  fear of not getting what we want or fear of losing what we have.  Yes, we should be afraid of things that might harm us, its OK to be a little cautious when things don’t seem quite right. But our fear sometimes goes way beyond that; and that’s when we need God to step in and calm our anxiety.

            My prayer for you today is that God would give you protection from danger and faith to conquer your fear.

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thoughts on the news of the day: journey

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            Today we are driving to Branson, MO.  There is no easy way to get there.  Out of Mountain Home all paths are crooked, curvy, steep and hilly with narrow shoulders or none at all.  However, the scenic views are terrific so it’s worth the effort to drive the highways.

            In our bible study yesterday, we looked at Isaiah 40.  It’s the one with the passage that talks about making straight the paths through the desert, lifting every valley up and making every hill low.  In lovely poetic language, the author gives us a picture of a journey made easier. Sometimes, I wonder if Isaiah was talking about Highway 62, the mountain road out of Mountain Home! It sure would be nice if it was a super highway like Interstate 540 that cuts through the mountains from Springdale to Ft. Smith. 

            My spiritual mentor says that as we grow spiritually, the path we travel gets steeper and narrower. Life becomes a joy, but a challenge as we begin to have higher expectations of ourselves. We want to draw closer to our Maker and that requires self discipline and dedication. But my mentor also says that as we climb that high mountain of spiritual growth, and we pause to look out over the horizon, the view is incredible.  And that is true also.  We see the beauty and wonder of creation, and our part in it.  We become closer to God.

            Where will your journey take you today, and what will you see?

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thoughts on the news of the day: Secret Santa

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            In Kansas City there is a long standing tradition.  A Secret Santa hits the streets shortly before Christmas each year to hand out $100 bills to unsuspecting strangers.  He finds people in thrift stores, food pantries and shelters who are down on their luck and in need of a little Christmas miracle.  No one knows who this man is, or the source of his donations because this Secret Santa prefers to remain anonymous. 

            I thought I had the best job in the world; I am the pastor of a small congregation in the Ozarks.  In beautiful surroundings, I get to do a wide variety of fun assignments.  Then there are the pot lucks; too much good food and too little time to sample it all!  And, of course, I have the Best Boss in the universe …

            Yes, I thought I had the best job in the world, but I think Secret Santa tops mine.  Can you imagine how thrilling it would be to surprise ordinary people with the money they need to make their own Christmas wishes come true? 

            You may be stuck in a job you don’t like.  That’s a hard place to be.  You may be wishing for your own Secret Santa to rescue you with a $100 bill or two.  My prayer for you this Christmas is that you get everything you need and most of what you want.  But that in the receiving, may you also find the joy that comes from giving to others.  And then … maybe you would have your own Christmas miracle …

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thoughts on the news of the day: hospitality

December 14, 2010

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            Today I am hosting my annual Christmas Open House.  My home has been decorated, the punch and cookies are made, and the napkins and plates are ready to go.  It gets dark here by 5:30, so we need some bright spots in the early evening this time of year.  Besides, it’s a good time to celebrate!

            My grandmother had the gift of hospitality.  She loved to cook and entertain.  At Christmas time, she spent hours in the kitchen baking cookies and candies in hopes of folks stopping by to sample her goodies.  I am not sure how many angels she entertained unawares, but she certainly understood the biblical gift of making someone feel at home.  And it is a gift.  Just like teaching and preaching, hospitality is a gift God gives us to share our love with others.

            Our church has the gift of hospitality.  Every Sunday after church we host a fellowship hour.  We have cookies galore – not the store bought kind.  No, our cookies are the best in town and come from some of the very best bakers in the area!  You will find a welcoming spirit there and the desire to reach out and share our facilities and our friendship.

            In spite of the fact that I love to host parties, I am not sure I have the gift of hospitality.  But I do respect and admire that welcoming spirit when I see it.  Perhaps you have it, and if you do, don’t hesitate to share it.  You might meet some angels and not even know it.

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thoughts on the news of the day: monetization

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            If you are a fan of facebook like me, you enjoy sharing information with your friends.  Unfortunately, that same information is tracked by advertisers in their efforts to tailor their messages to various groups of consumers.  But this month, the Federal Trade Commission is trying to curtail that tracking by establishing a “Do Not Track” mechanism which would enable us to opt out of being scrutinized on the Web.  Soon, we will be able to say “no” to those who want to entice us with their wares by personally pestering us on the internet.

            The particular blog site that I use has a mechanism that enables the writer to “monetize” their site.  In other words, on my blog, I have the ability to allow retailers to advertise their product to you the reader.  Then, in turn, if you respond to the ad, I would get a small remuneration.  Thus far, I have resisted it.  It feels a lot like the money changers in the temple who pawned their wares to vulnerable seekers.  And somehow, it seems disrespectful to you, the reader.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind at all profiting from my writing; I just don’t want to manipulate my readers in the process.

            All that to say, I appreciate each and every one of you who read my blog and hope that each day you are in some way encouraged, enlightened or edified by what your read.  Thank you for your readership and your comments; you are a blessing to me.

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thoughts on the news of the day: blizzard

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            Heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions grip most of the Midwest this morning.  Up to 20 inches of snow is predicted. This is problematic for one Minnesota man who pledged to camp out on the roof of a coffee shop to help his daughter’s school raise money.  The man dressed in four layers of thermal underwear, heavy boots and a down coat to begin his commitment to the school on last Friday night.  He promised he would raise $100,000 for the school and would not come down off of his perch until he had reached that goal.  “I think I’ve crossed the line into insanity,” he said.

            A colleague in ministry writes a bible study that I read each morning.  Today he talked about commitment. And that’s what comes to mind when I think about the man sitting on a rooftop in a blizzard to raise money.  What incredible dedication it would take to live outside in subzero conditions to raise money for a good cause.

            What are you committed to today?  If you haven’t made a commitment to regularly attend a church service on Sunday mornings, today would be a good day to do that.  The music and Christmas decorations are more than enough reason to give it a try, but the blessings you will receive by attending might carry you through a difficult holiday season.  Sure beats sitting out on a frigid rooftop!

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thoughts on the news of the day: yesterday's news

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            Not much really new in the digital world today.  It’s mostly a rehash of yesterday’s news.  That sometimes happens, there’s just not that much that is fresh to report.

            I am having that same problem with my Christmas letter this year.  Usually there are trips to write about or moves or changes in jobs or relationships, but this year is pretty much a repeat of last year.  So I considered not even writing a Christmas letter this December.  After all, aren’t they usually just a brag book of exaggerated accomplishments no one really cares about?

            An elderly friend from the Houston area is faithful to write to me each Christmas.  I haven’t seen her for years, but we always catch up each December with our annual Christmas cards and notes.  To be honest, as I prepared to address the envelope, I wondered if she was even still alive.  But sure enough, the next day I received a beautiful card and letter from her.  She wrote a note asking about all the things I had mentioned in last year’s letter and it made me realize that keeping in touch with old acquaintances is important to me.  Even if the news seems mundane, corresponding at Christmas keeps the relationship fresh and current.  My task today is to get that Christmas letter written and update my address book.  I don’t want to lose touch with folks who have meant so much to me over the years.

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Thoughts on the news of the day: what America wants

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            “What America Wants”. USA Today asks that question on its internet site and invites us to send in photos and captions depicting the answer to that question.  What does America want?

            Each year on December 10, I celebrate the anniversary of the best day of my life.  No, it’s not a wedding day; it is not even the date of the birth of my only child.  Actually, its an ordinary day in all respects but one.  On December 10, 1984 I was living in rural Central Arkansas.  My infant daughter and I were alone, her father had left us; our house payment was months in arrears; my new job as a real estate broker was not panning out; and the bank account was bare. 

            My life was a shambles and I knew it.  So, I went outside that afternoon to enjoy the unusual bright spring-like weather and to rake some leaves in an attempt to freshen my yard and get the house ready to put on the market.  Despair all but overwhelmed me. 

            Then, out of the blue I had a realization of the warm sunshine and the beauty of the day.  An overwhelming sense of gratitude for blessings of good health grabbed my soul.  God was in charge and it would all be OK.  I knew that from then on, I was not alone; the universe would eventually come together; and life, despite its up and downs, was good. 

            Have things been perfect since that day?  No.  But they have always worked out.  And the peace of mind I have enjoyed from surrendering that day has never left me. 

            I believe that what Americans want is what everyone on the planet wants: peace of mind; the knowledge that we are not alone and that no matter what happens it will eventually be OK. 

            And I pray that on this December 10, that peace of mind will be given to you.

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thoughts on the news of the day: starlight

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            A spectacular starlight event is scheduled for December 13.  The massive Geminid meteor shower returns every year; but also showing in the winter sky will be the December 20 total eclipse of the moon. This eclipse claims to be the best one to view before 2014.

            There is something sacred about gazing into the sky to see the light.  A few years ago, I traveled to the Texas Hill country for a pastor’s retreat.  One of the nights I was there, I trekked  alone to the highest point in the area and sat in my lawn chair gazing at the planet Mars.  It was at its closest point to our little world and was a giant pink orb gleaming in the sky.  Later on that same year, I had the opportunity to sit atop a mountain in Vermont and view the Milky Way. I felt as if I could touch the sky, the stars were so bright.  Both events reaffirmed my belief in a Master Creator who bathes our world in glowing light and watches over each of us.

            The Bible has stories of stars and one of the most famous is the account of the wise men following the bright light to Bethlehem.  We remember that story this time of year as we celebrate a special birth of a very special child.  I wonder if the Magi felt the same closeness to creation and Creator as they journeyed so far in search of greatness.

            I invite you to follow the stars this December. Grab your lawn chair and your cozy blanket and venture out into the night.  God’s grand showing of nature’s fireworks awaits.

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thoughts on the news of the day: spontaneity

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                Random acts of culture are overtaking our world.  Seems like everywhere you turn these days, another video is out on that features choristers belting out Handel’s Messiah at large department stores and food courts in shopping malls.  I think aside from the power and majesty of the composition, the appeal of these events is their spontaneity.  Interestingly, my thesaurus lists “artlessness’ as a synonym for spontaneity, but these videos are anything but lacking in artistic value.

                Tonight our church is having its annual Christmas Dinner and Party.  We will eat together and then have a program.  Our plan is to have a Christmas pageant with folks volunteering to participate having no previous knowledge of the event.  The narrator will have a script, but those attending will be asked to play the parts of the shepherds, angels and wise men.  It’s not like we all don’t already know the story!  There will be appropriate Christmas Carols interspersed among the scenes of the play and everyone will be invited to join in on them.  The key to the success of this program will be the willingness of our group to spontaneously respond. 

                In our planned a packaged world today, there is not much room for spontaneity.  We want to know in advance what is going to happen and what will be expected of us.  But much of life is spontaneously responding to events over which we have no control. 

                In the Spirit of the Christmas Season, I invite you today to be spontaneous.  You may find a new joy that has been lacking in your life.  I bet you will feel a new sense of wonder and awe.  Try it, you may like it!!

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thoughts on the news of the day: remember when

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                December 7 will always be a day to remember.  On that day in 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked.  If you are of my father’s age group, you can probably describe where you were and what you were doing when you heard the details of the attack.  My generation is marked with the memories of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. For my daughter’s contemporaries, I suppose it will be the events of September 11, 2001. 

                I remember exactly where I was on November 22, 1963.  We were sitting in the classroom working on math problems when our principal came to the door and announced that the president had been shot.  Immediately the news reports were broadcast over the loudspeakers in our classroom and we huddled there listening in anticipation of what eventually was to be the final tragic outcome of the shooting.  I remember questioning if we were safe, if our country could survive the loss of a great leader; probably in much the same way that folks wondered if our country could withstand the hostile assault on Pearl Harbor or the attack on the World Trade Center. 

                We were safe, but I don’t ever want to take that for granted.  I want to remember that we are blessed to live in a great nation that has withstood the attempts to bring down our greatness.  I want to continue to be grateful for young men and women like my nephew who choose to serve our country in the armed forces. 

                Let’s remember today all those who serve and protect our great nation.

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thoughts on the news of the day: resumes

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                Several of my friends are looking for jobs right now, so I thought it might be interesting to read the news item that popped up today on my server titled: 8 Ways to Fix Your Resume and Land a Job.  The article lists things like analyzing the job post’s wording, getting rid of redundancies and looking for ways to use exciting language.  The tips were valuable, but the most worthwhile point made by the piece was that career experts all think that customizing your resume for each new application is paramount in resume writing.  In other words, show ways in which you are uniquely qualified to hold the position.

                We forget that we are unique.  There is no other person on the planet with the same characteristics and qualifications as the person we look at in the mirror each day.  And that is a good thing.

                God made each of us one of a kind.  No one else has had the same life experiences, the same feelings and thoughts, the same combination of family and friends as we do.  Even twins are different.  If this is true, then each of us is distinctively qualified to hold a place in our world.  Each of us is needed, no one is redundant.  We don’t have to pretend that we are something that we are not, we don’t have to try and be like someone else, and we don’t have to change who we are to make someone else happy.

                Relax and enjoy who you are; God wouldn’t have it any other way!

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thoughts on the news of the day: polls

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            Fort Smith, AR, a city in my home state is ranked among the least “brainiest” cities in the United States.  This is according to a poll done by an internet newspaper.  The research measured the income and education of the inhabitants of a number of cities to tabulate the results. 

            Just about anyone can take a poll on just about anything these days and get away with it.  I read an article about a survey that was taken to determine the most trusted professions in the United States.  Ministry ranked almost dead last.  Of course, this poll was taken by a scientific journal, which ranked scientists among the most trusted.  

            Who do we trust for good information?  What sources can we have faith in to give us honest, unbiased facts?  Have you scrutinized the news sources available to you to determine their value and honesty?  I tend to rely on several, but I admit that they do lean toward a certain bias. 

            One thing is for sure, we can’t depend on only upon ourselves to know what to do or think in a situation, the world has gotten far too complicated for that.  So when all else fails, I pray.  And the answer that gives me peace is usually the one that is right for me.  Maybe that will work for you, too.

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thoughts on the news of the day: parades

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            The local news today is that our small country town had its annual Christmas parade last night.  The theme was something about Christmas lights, which helped since the parade took place after dark.  So, there were sparkly lights, high school bands, lit up floats with kids singing Christmas Carols, and even a “smart” car parade.  Santa always appears to conclude the event and there is only one Santa, so as not to confuse the children.

             I love parades; they give me happiness, which is different than joy.  Happiness is a fleeting emotion, usually a by-product of things going our way. But inner joy is more than emotion. It is a sense of well-being that transcends events, circumstances or situations.  Happiness is emotional; joy is spiritual.  We feel joy deep down in our bones.

            And why is this important?  It’s especially important this time of year, because so much of what we expect at Christmas is to be happy. We think that maybe gifts, or goodies, or Christmas TV specials, or even parades will give us the happiness we crave.  And they do, but happiness is temporary.  At Christmastime, joy comes from marking again the moment when the universe set forth one point of light to save us from ourselves for all eternity. 

            Be happy this Christmas; but find joy in remembrance of the birth of a tiny child. 

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thoughts on the news of the day: denial

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            Do cell phones cause cancer?  The National Cancer Institute has ruled them to be safe, but a growing number of independent researchers disagree.  Apparently recent studies suggest that wireless devices emit radiation that might not be so safe after all.

            I love my iphone; I inherited it from my daughter when she upgraded hers, and even though it is not state of the art, I think it’s the coolest thing ever.  So, for the moment, I choose to be in denial about the cell phone health warnings.  Denial can be a beautiful thing.  It can allow you to eat chocolate nonstop; work through all sorts of allergies and ailments; drive over the speed limit and abuse your body with overwork.  Oh … maybe it’s not such a good thing after all. 

            We all live in denial of some sort or another.  Maybe you disagree with that statement as far as your own life is concerned.  (Ha! Maybe I have caught you in your own denial!)  I believe that the degree to which we indulge in denial is the issue.  If it endangers our well being or the well-being of another, it’s not so good.  But sometimes it is necessary.  Pretending that a horrible job situation is not so bad until you are able to get another one is not such a bad thing, because it gets you through a temporarily difficult situation. 

            Where in your life do you live in denial?  And what can you do to overcome it?

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thoughts on the news of the day: go ... or no ...

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            How embarrassing!  Susan Boyle was singing “O Holy Night” on The View the other day and stopped midway through the piece.  She just stopped.  It was live television, so the whole ugly thing was viewed nationwide.  Apparently, she lost her voice and simply couldn’t go on singing.

            When is it time to quit?  Perseverance is one thing, but sometimes it is best to cover your losses and move on.  And how do we know when that time is?  When do we continue on faith, and when do we accept the fact that things are just not going to work out quite like we had planned?

            Acceptance is the key.  I think the prayer goes: Accept the things we can, change the things we can, and have the wisdom to know the difference. 

            I say that as long as the door keeps opening, we must continue to walk through it. And when it closes, its time to quit.  The door definitely closed when Susan Boyle lost her voice, so she had no choice but to stop singing.  She humbly accepted the fact that her voice would not cooperate, and she had the wisdom to know it was best to just simply stop, even if it caused her global embarrassment.

            Maybe there’s a door you have been knocking on in your life that simply won’t open.  Maybe its time to stop and move on; and maybe, just maybe, another door will open.

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thoughts on the news of the day: top ten

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            Let the lists begin!  It is the last month of the year and the last month of the decade, so Top 10 lists are beginning to dominate the news.  One search engine reported the top search this year to be, not Britney Spears, as in years past, but the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf.  This is the first time a major news story has reached the top of an internet list, as opposed to a pop icon or event.

            I have a friend who is making 50 lists of 50 different things in celebration of his fiftieth year.  That will be quite an accomplishment if he is actually able to do it!

            There are lots of reasons to make lists.  Probably the top list made is the “to do” list.  Have you ever made a “to do” list in the morning only to find that at the end of the day just one or two things have been accomplished?  That happens to me on a regular basis, I get sidetracked, things happen. 

            Then there’s the Bucket List: a list of things to do before you “kick the bucket.”  What would be on yours? Probably places to go and things to do, but would it have people to help, causes to support?  How about making a list of ten things to do before you go to heaven?  Something like reading 150 Psalms in 150 days.  Or maybe doing one random act of kindness each day without getting caught? 

            What is the list of your life?  And what will you accomplish next?

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thoughts on the news of the day: rules

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            The news in the world of golf today is that Ian Poulter, who was on the green in a playoff at the Dubai World Championship, accidentally dropped his ball onto his ball marker, flipping the marker over.  You would think that wouldn’t be such a big deal, but it is.  It cost Poulter a one-stroke penalty, which lost him the game.

            The interesting thing about this particular moment in golf history is that Poulter notified the rules officials immediately of the mistake.  It wasn’t someone else questioning him; it was the self-policing action of Poulter himself.  Now, the tradition of golf has a long history of an honor system in which folks play by the rules.  Golfers pride themselves in knowing the rules and adhering strictly to them; especially when playing for money.           

            Playing by the rules is an almost foreign concept in today’s world.  So many people think that the rules don’t apply to them.  Or they think they can make them up as they go.  It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?  What would it be like if folks were as noble in their everyday affairs as they are on the golf course?

            Now, I am a golfer; and I am not very good. So I should not be so self-righteous.  My golf partner routinely lets me bend the rules, because, after all, I am just a beginner.  At least that’s my excuse.  But maybe I should be more intentional about following the rules.  Maybe we all should …..

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thoughts on the news of the day: home

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            Congress returns to work today and they face a long to-do list of challenging issues. I, too, am returning home after a wonderful stay at my daughter’s home in Austin, TX.  It’s hard to say good-bye; especially when you have had a great time with people you love.  In my case, however, it won’t be long until I see my daughter again.  She is a teacher, so she will be coming to see me on her Christmas break in three weeks.  It’s like she will be returning home, too, even though she has never actually lived in the Ozarks.

            Returning home.  The Prodigal Son did it.  Dorothy did it in the Wizard of Oz.   And you and I have the opportunity to return home ever so often, too.  In fact, before I return to my own home I am going to my Dad’s for a day or two.  It has been home to me all my life, and I still call it “home” even though I haven’t lived there for over 20 years.

            They say that home is where the heart is.  So is it a place?  Or is it a state of mind?  Probably both.  Home is that feeling of safety and security that you can find almost anywhere.  It’s a sense that you belong; that all is right with the world. 

            I hope that you are at home wherever you might be.  That today you feel sheltered in a sanctuary of you own choosing. And if you aren’t, I hope you have the opportunity to return home soon.

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