Meet! Meet! Meet! Talk! Talk! Talk! Yak! Yak! Yak!
Same ole stuff. More and More. Over and Over! Been there! Done that!
After 40 years of ministry, I have gone to more meetings than I can count. This week is our annual state district council meeting. I have attended 40 of those as a minister and even more as a child with my father. Then I have gone to 20 different bi-annual general council meetings all over America and even more including again as a child. Then there are monthly minister's meetings all those years. Then weekly staff meetings and all kinds of other conferences and church meetings and revivals and then counseling sessions and more other kinds of meetings.
Now you know why the first couple of sentences were written. Do I like any of it. Well, yes I do. Some, admittedly is repetition and boring. Sometimes I wonder why we have to go on and on and on.
But, I do like seeing my minister buddies. I do like the combined synergy. I have been encouraged along the way. I believe I have encourage some others too.
So, I'll keep going. It is the thing to do. We're at another one now. I hope it will be good.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
SUCK IT UP!
Yesterday, Wanda and I team spoke for Sunday morning church and Mother's Day. This was her first time to speak in a Sunday church service. She prepared all week and we worked together on the sermon. We spent time praying together for God's guidance and wisdom in what to share.
Team speaking is challenging as all speakers have to get on the "same page". I felt directed to the story of Deborah in The Book of Judges. She had some thoughts too, and as the week progressed we felt common direction. It is an interesting story of a woman who led Israel during a crisis time. Deborah was a multi-tasker in that she performed many jobs and several of them simultaneously. That is common to women.
Men are not very good at multi-tasking. We are logic based, focused on the moment, and don't notice too many other things around us when we're committed to a task. Women have many wires running all around in their brains. Men live in one box at a time. At least that is what Mark Gungor says. I agree.
Wanda did a great job encouraging the ladies on how to be successful in all their duties as multi-taskers. She does it well. She is a hard working, committed wife, mother, grandmother, and pastor's wife. I give her A+. Ladies work is from dawn to dusk and everything in between.
One hilarious but pointed statement she made to men was, "Men, suck it up and help around the house." I think she got that from Hezekiah 2:4. Ha! She had me rolling and got lots of Amens from the ladies, needless to say.
We had fun speaking together, and I think she did a fantastic job.
When we got home, I asked her if she wanted to speak again next Sunday. She said, "NO!" I think she saw how much it takes to speak. She would do great again. I am sure.
Team speaking is challenging as all speakers have to get on the "same page". I felt directed to the story of Deborah in The Book of Judges. She had some thoughts too, and as the week progressed we felt common direction. It is an interesting story of a woman who led Israel during a crisis time. Deborah was a multi-tasker in that she performed many jobs and several of them simultaneously. That is common to women.
Men are not very good at multi-tasking. We are logic based, focused on the moment, and don't notice too many other things around us when we're committed to a task. Women have many wires running all around in their brains. Men live in one box at a time. At least that is what Mark Gungor says. I agree.
Wanda did a great job encouraging the ladies on how to be successful in all their duties as multi-taskers. She does it well. She is a hard working, committed wife, mother, grandmother, and pastor's wife. I give her A+. Ladies work is from dawn to dusk and everything in between.
One hilarious but pointed statement she made to men was, "Men, suck it up and help around the house." I think she got that from Hezekiah 2:4. Ha! She had me rolling and got lots of Amens from the ladies, needless to say.
We had fun speaking together, and I think she did a fantastic job.
When we got home, I asked her if she wanted to speak again next Sunday. She said, "NO!" I think she saw how much it takes to speak. She would do great again. I am sure.
Friday, May 11, 2012
THANK YOU MOMMA!
Words seem so small when talking about how much your mother means to you. I am thankful that my mother is still with us. I talk with her several times each week. She is such a blessing.
She is selfless, serving, and spiritual. She loves my father and my siblings and has always been there for us. She has always honored God and worked to advance His Kingdom. She led me to Jesus and taught me how to live a victorious Christian life.
When all of her kids were small, she would sew and make beautiful dresses for my sisters. She didn't make much for me, but I remember shirts that she made and a few other things. Those clothes stand out in my mind more than all the "store bought" ones. They were made by loving hands.
She loved all of us kids enough to teach, train, and discipline us. Once she pinched me in church when I wasn't doing right. Ouch, that hurt. I think I blurted out loud, "Don't pinch me, that hurt." I think that led to more correction when we got home. Ha! I needed it!
I love her delicious pound cakes and fried chicken. Wow! What a treat! I can smell the aroma right now. She would always make a cake on Sunday afternoon that we would enjoy before and after church and then into the first of the week.
Thank you Mom for always being there for us, for loving us, for all of your kind acts. I am grateful you are my Mother.
She is selfless, serving, and spiritual. She loves my father and my siblings and has always been there for us. She has always honored God and worked to advance His Kingdom. She led me to Jesus and taught me how to live a victorious Christian life.
When all of her kids were small, she would sew and make beautiful dresses for my sisters. She didn't make much for me, but I remember shirts that she made and a few other things. Those clothes stand out in my mind more than all the "store bought" ones. They were made by loving hands.
She loved all of us kids enough to teach, train, and discipline us. Once she pinched me in church when I wasn't doing right. Ouch, that hurt. I think I blurted out loud, "Don't pinch me, that hurt." I think that led to more correction when we got home. Ha! I needed it!
I love her delicious pound cakes and fried chicken. Wow! What a treat! I can smell the aroma right now. She would always make a cake on Sunday afternoon that we would enjoy before and after church and then into the first of the week.
Thank you Mom for always being there for us, for loving us, for all of your kind acts. I am grateful you are my Mother.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
DREAM A DREAM
God gives dreams with eternal purpose. Joseph in the Old Testament had a dream, and in God's timing it came true. It took perseverance and faith for the dream to turn into reality, but it happened.
Significant dreams don't happen easily. The bigger the dream means that often is followed by bigger challenges. That has been my experience. Dreams give reason. They give purpose. They produce blessings. That is if they are dreams sent from God.
What do you do when your dreams are attacked or dashed? Giving up is not an option, if they are dreams from heaven. You have to look to God again. Listen to His voice. Let Him renew and refocus. Then it is time to move forward and try again.
I chuckled when I read a devotional recently that included a cute funny with a message. It goes like this:
There was once a college student who rode his bike all over campus with a tee-shirt with the message that read, "I am going to be a doctor." On the bike was a sign that also had a message, "I am going to be a Mercedes."
Ha! I like that. You gotta have a dream.
God's dreams have purpose. He has a higher, greater plan. I want His dreams. I am willing to work through His strength to see them turn into reality.
Significant dreams don't happen easily. The bigger the dream means that often is followed by bigger challenges. That has been my experience. Dreams give reason. They give purpose. They produce blessings. That is if they are dreams sent from God.
What do you do when your dreams are attacked or dashed? Giving up is not an option, if they are dreams from heaven. You have to look to God again. Listen to His voice. Let Him renew and refocus. Then it is time to move forward and try again.
I chuckled when I read a devotional recently that included a cute funny with a message. It goes like this:
There was once a college student who rode his bike all over campus with a tee-shirt with the message that read, "I am going to be a doctor." On the bike was a sign that also had a message, "I am going to be a Mercedes."
Ha! I like that. You gotta have a dream.
God's dreams have purpose. He has a higher, greater plan. I want His dreams. I am willing to work through His strength to see them turn into reality.
Monday, May 7, 2012
TEN POUNDS LIGHTER
My IPhone apps are working. I have now officially lost ten pounds. I weighed Sunday morning before breakfast and it is a fact. I am ten pounds lighter. Boy, did I ever feel proud. That isn't much by some standards, but for me it is huge.
Last week I watched a TV program where one of the contestants lost over 190 pounds. Now that is losing weight. He lost as much as I weigh. I hope to lose 12 more pounds so I have some work to do yet.
How is it happening? It is all about right portions of right food coupled with right exercise. That will work every time.
Oh, one more thing. I drink water, lots of water. No cokes. No tea, well, maybe a little ice tea every so often. I am still a Southerner, so I will take a tea all along. But I am not drinking much.
What is the point. It is about good health, good living, and long life. It is about being my best for Jesus. It is about making every day count. So, I am trying. I've lost ten pounds.
Friday, May 4, 2012
SLIMMING DOWN
Well, it is working. I am losing that excess wait. You've read the iPhone Apps that I am using, but it is requires more than mere technology to lose the wait. It requires putting the fork down and making sure that when you pick it up that you eat the right stuff.
It takes will power. Sweat. Effort. Hunger. It requires discipline to exercise and workout. I don't get enough physical exercise in my daily routines to burn enough calories so I have to run, walk, and do strength exercises. That takes some major effort and time.
Here is the good news. It is working.
I am slimming down and losing inches around my belly. My muscles are toning up. I feel stronger. I feel better. Yay!
I have lost about 7 pounds with another 15 pounds to go. I am eating under 1500 calories each day and working out burning another 400 or so off the 1500. My total calorie intake is averaging around 1200 or so after accounting for the burned calories through exercise.
I only have one body, one brain, two legs, two arms and hands, and one belly. Sometimes I would like to have a second belly that is portable. Ha!
Life is short and when I visit all these sickly folks in the hospital it makes me realize even more that I need to take care of my one body. I won't get another one in this life.
It takes will power. Sweat. Effort. Hunger. It requires discipline to exercise and workout. I don't get enough physical exercise in my daily routines to burn enough calories so I have to run, walk, and do strength exercises. That takes some major effort and time.
Here is the good news. It is working.
I am slimming down and losing inches around my belly. My muscles are toning up. I feel stronger. I feel better. Yay!
I have lost about 7 pounds with another 15 pounds to go. I am eating under 1500 calories each day and working out burning another 400 or so off the 1500. My total calorie intake is averaging around 1200 or so after accounting for the burned calories through exercise.
I only have one body, one brain, two legs, two arms and hands, and one belly. Sometimes I would like to have a second belly that is portable. Ha!
Life is short and when I visit all these sickly folks in the hospital it makes me realize even more that I need to take care of my one body. I won't get another one in this life.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
MAP YOUR RUN
I have another new app for my IPhone called MapMyRun. MapMyRun uses the GPS to keep a record of my walks, runs, or jogs so that I can better determine how much exercise I am getting. It will chart my workouts and keep a log for reference. It will also record how fast I walk or run and gives updates as I am running or walking to let me know how far I have gone and the pace I am going. It actually paints a map of my run.
I have used it twice and both times, once while running and another while walking, it would let me know by voice that I had gone a mile and also how fast. Amazing! It talks to me.
It is really neat. Sometimes I like to go different routes for specific distances, but I am not sure how far the route would be. With this, I can keep an up-to-the-minute voice record and screen record for me of my distance and time. Amazing, again!
It lets me know how many calories I have burned and has numerous nutrition features. I don know that I will be using all the features, but it has a lot of neat ones. Most of it is done automatically with me only starting and stopping the device.
Another feature is that it records actually elevation differences as I jog, run, or walk. That gives input to how much energy is being used. Amazing again!
But you know what? This isn't a fraction of the info and facts that the Lord keeps up with me on a daily basis. He knows every detail, thought, and action. He knows the number of hairs on my head and every cell in my body.
The Lord knows where I am going before I go there. He keeps record of what I do there when I get there. He knows everything.
He knows all that and still loves me. I like that.
I have used it twice and both times, once while running and another while walking, it would let me know by voice that I had gone a mile and also how fast. Amazing! It talks to me.
It is really neat. Sometimes I like to go different routes for specific distances, but I am not sure how far the route would be. With this, I can keep an up-to-the-minute voice record and screen record for me of my distance and time. Amazing, again!
It lets me know how many calories I have burned and has numerous nutrition features. I don know that I will be using all the features, but it has a lot of neat ones. Most of it is done automatically with me only starting and stopping the device.
Another feature is that it records actually elevation differences as I jog, run, or walk. That gives input to how much energy is being used. Amazing again!
But you know what? This isn't a fraction of the info and facts that the Lord keeps up with me on a daily basis. He knows every detail, thought, and action. He knows the number of hairs on my head and every cell in my body.
The Lord knows where I am going before I go there. He keeps record of what I do there when I get there. He knows everything.
He knows all that and still loves me. I like that.
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