Today is the first day of my second year in my journey with Ramsey Hunt Syndrome and the effects that the Bells Palsy part of that syndrome has left on my face. Hard to believe that one year ago yesterday, I was hit on the head with a pine tree branch about 5 inches in diameter. And even harder to believe that this occurance triggered the release of a virus that caused the shingles and bells palsy on the right side of my face but that is what they think happened.
I have learned alot in this year! There is alot that I take for granted in terms of how my face works. I have learned to appreciate the little things and be in awe of the way God designed our bodies. I also have learned how to overcome some struggles. I now have greater sympathy for stroke and bells palsy victims. And finally, I learned that Acupuncture is AWESOME! I have GREAT appreciation for Natalie Hazel at Red Dragon Wellness Center (find her on Facebook if you are interested in exploring an option for you!).
I had my 5th treatment of acupuncture last night and it gave me more of the usage of my face than I have had yet! And the interesting thing is that after the first two treatments, I saw great improvement, but then after the 3rd and 4th, I didn't notice much improvement at all. Yesterday, the acupuncturist said she did some research and was not happy with not getting much progress. Then she said, "We WILL get some progress this week!" And all she did was place 2 needles in a new spot and 13 others in spots where we have had them before. The interesting thing is that the new spot was on the side of my thighs. As soon as the needle went in on my left thigh, I could feel my face come alive! All I can say is WOW!
And today, my face is twitching and coming alive in spots that previous to this have been dead!
All Praise to God for his provisions!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Wrong...
Boy was I wrong on Friday when I wrote my blog about the wedding and rehearsal. Things didn't really smooth out like they normally do between the rehearsal and the wedding. The wedding had many more glitches than I would have liked but they were out of my control. All that aside, though, we did get the couple married and I think they were happy with the service and that is really all that matters!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Love them...
One of the things in ministry that I love doing is weddings! Tonight I have the privilege of conducting a wedding rehearsal for a couple... the girl was in our youth group a few years back and now is committing to spend her life with a neat guy!
It's funny how the rehearsal will seem unorganized and filled with loose ends, but tomorrow the wedding will come off without a hitch and will seem well orchastrated! It is so neat to see that happen.
Congrats Sarah and Ed! And God bless you in your new life together as husband and wife!
It's funny how the rehearsal will seem unorganized and filled with loose ends, but tomorrow the wedding will come off without a hitch and will seem well orchastrated! It is so neat to see that happen.
Congrats Sarah and Ed! And God bless you in your new life together as husband and wife!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The following story is a true story about a good friend of mine who has been in a Life Transformation Group that I lead for more than 7 years now. Stephen decided to bring his life to God and allow God to use it after this life-changing event....
A former college football player, Stephen Slocum, 50, liked to push himself. It worked in
business, allowing him to become the owner of a successful Nationwide Insurance office in
Salisbury. And it worked in the gym; he was a regular at the Mid-Shore YMCA, keeping
himself as fit as when he played football in his college days. Cardiac stress tests were
no challenge for him.
But one day at the gym, something went wrong. “I noticed I didn’t have the same ‘punch’ I
normally do,” Slocum said. “I got dizzy and thought I better get myself checked out.”
Slocum went to Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department, where tests all
seemed normal — except for the EKG. Just 45 minutes later, he already had a stent in place
to fix an obstructed right coronary artery.
“I couldn’t believe how quick it was,” he said. And he felt better almost immediately, so
good, in fact that he was soon back at the Y for his workout routine. Two weeks after the
first incident, Slocum was exercising in the weight room when he was felled by a major
heart attack due to a blood clot. An off-duty Detective Sergeant from the Wicomico Sheriff’s Office, Michael Dolch, happened to be at the Y that day and helped revive Slocum.
“I just had walked in to work out, and some people told me there was a man having a
seizure,” Dolch said. “I went to see if I could help, and when I went to take his vital
signs, he stopped breathing.” Dolch had been trained for CPR, but never had used it — now, his practice paid off. He and another bystander, an off-duty officer from Eastern Correctional Institution, kept Slocum’s heart pumping and airways circulating.
“When I went into the room and saw who was working on him, I knew these were two people
who had been highly trained and I felt really good about his chances,” said Nora Mears, a
longtime aquatics instructor at the YMCA. Mears added her experience to boost Slocum’s
chances — not only is she a lifeguard, but she also teaches lifeguard classes at the Y
that include CPR and AED usage.
By another stroke of luck, Slocum’s good friend, Dr. Jeffrey H. Etherton of Delmarva Heart
had donated a defibrillator to the Mid-Shore YMCA 10 years ago, to use in situations such
as this one. Mears helped shock Slocum’s heart back into rhythm —it took three shocks.
Dr. Etherton, a YMCA board member, said he and his wife, Michele, decided to donate the
AED after a fellow board member and philanthropist Herb Fincher was felled by sudden
cardiac death at the gym. “A wonderful guy had died, and it struck me that something could have been done about it,” Etherton said. “About a month later, my wife and I donated the defibrillator.” Since then, the YMCA’s defibrillator has been used twice — Mears had been helping the first time, too. Both times, the AED helped save lives.
The Ethertons’ donation came well ahead of a growing national trend to install AEDs in
public areas, from airports to malls. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says
that 95 percent of people who have sudden cardiac arrest die from it if they are not
rapidly treated with an AED.
It made the difference for Stephen Slocum. “His color looked really good when the
ambulance came,” Mears said. The paramedics helped keep up the CPR on Slocum, and
transported him to Peninsula Regional’s Emergency Department, where a “Code Ice” was
initiated — a process that uses therapeutic hypothermia to reduce damage to the body and
brain after a severe heart attack begins to cut off vital blood flow.
The process worked. On his 50th birthday, November 27, Slocum was released from the
hospital, just weeks after a heart attack that many could not have survived. Today, he is
back to work, and back to working out, too — although now it’s at Peninsula Regional’s
Cardiac Rehab facility, where his heart is monitored while he exercises. Even though Slocum’s heart attack happened at the gym, he is still a strong believer in exercise. “I don’t think I would have been able to recover as quickly — maybe even wouldn’t have survived — if I wasn’t so fit,” he said. It’s likely that family history played a role in his heart disease. Slocum says that many people in his family, including his father, had cardiac problems. Exercise is a vital way to ensure that his heart recovers and stays healthy.
Dr. Etherton was deeply moved by the fact that the AED he donated ended up saving the life
of a dear friend. “God works in mysterious ways. And the one most important thing I have
taken from this — it truly does help when you are philanthropic Giving can really make a
difference in people’s lives.”
Everything came together to allow Slocum to make it through the cardiac crisis — a
defibrillator donated by a friend; a YMCA employee who knew how to use it; quick-thinking,
well-trained officers on their day off; dedicated paramedics; and a rapid, high-tech
response at Peninsula Regional. Slocum is grateful to all who helped him that day. “I am a man of faith, and I believe that it was by God’s grace that all the proper people were lined up to keep me alive,” Slocum says.
This day forever changed my friend Stephen's life and he is not missing a beat in allowing God to use this event to impact the lives of others! He is the spark that has produced incredible growth in our men's group.
A former college football player, Stephen Slocum, 50, liked to push himself. It worked in
business, allowing him to become the owner of a successful Nationwide Insurance office in
Salisbury. And it worked in the gym; he was a regular at the Mid-Shore YMCA, keeping
himself as fit as when he played football in his college days. Cardiac stress tests were
no challenge for him.
But one day at the gym, something went wrong. “I noticed I didn’t have the same ‘punch’ I
normally do,” Slocum said. “I got dizzy and thought I better get myself checked out.”
Slocum went to Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department, where tests all
seemed normal — except for the EKG. Just 45 minutes later, he already had a stent in place
to fix an obstructed right coronary artery.
“I couldn’t believe how quick it was,” he said. And he felt better almost immediately, so
good, in fact that he was soon back at the Y for his workout routine. Two weeks after the
first incident, Slocum was exercising in the weight room when he was felled by a major
heart attack due to a blood clot. An off-duty Detective Sergeant from the Wicomico Sheriff’s Office, Michael Dolch, happened to be at the Y that day and helped revive Slocum.
“I just had walked in to work out, and some people told me there was a man having a
seizure,” Dolch said. “I went to see if I could help, and when I went to take his vital
signs, he stopped breathing.” Dolch had been trained for CPR, but never had used it — now, his practice paid off. He and another bystander, an off-duty officer from Eastern Correctional Institution, kept Slocum’s heart pumping and airways circulating.
“When I went into the room and saw who was working on him, I knew these were two people
who had been highly trained and I felt really good about his chances,” said Nora Mears, a
longtime aquatics instructor at the YMCA. Mears added her experience to boost Slocum’s
chances — not only is she a lifeguard, but she also teaches lifeguard classes at the Y
that include CPR and AED usage.
By another stroke of luck, Slocum’s good friend, Dr. Jeffrey H. Etherton of Delmarva Heart
had donated a defibrillator to the Mid-Shore YMCA 10 years ago, to use in situations such
as this one. Mears helped shock Slocum’s heart back into rhythm —it took three shocks.
Dr. Etherton, a YMCA board member, said he and his wife, Michele, decided to donate the
AED after a fellow board member and philanthropist Herb Fincher was felled by sudden
cardiac death at the gym. “A wonderful guy had died, and it struck me that something could have been done about it,” Etherton said. “About a month later, my wife and I donated the defibrillator.” Since then, the YMCA’s defibrillator has been used twice — Mears had been helping the first time, too. Both times, the AED helped save lives.
The Ethertons’ donation came well ahead of a growing national trend to install AEDs in
public areas, from airports to malls. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute says
that 95 percent of people who have sudden cardiac arrest die from it if they are not
rapidly treated with an AED.
It made the difference for Stephen Slocum. “His color looked really good when the
ambulance came,” Mears said. The paramedics helped keep up the CPR on Slocum, and
transported him to Peninsula Regional’s Emergency Department, where a “Code Ice” was
initiated — a process that uses therapeutic hypothermia to reduce damage to the body and
brain after a severe heart attack begins to cut off vital blood flow.
The process worked. On his 50th birthday, November 27, Slocum was released from the
hospital, just weeks after a heart attack that many could not have survived. Today, he is
back to work, and back to working out, too — although now it’s at Peninsula Regional’s
Cardiac Rehab facility, where his heart is monitored while he exercises. Even though Slocum’s heart attack happened at the gym, he is still a strong believer in exercise. “I don’t think I would have been able to recover as quickly — maybe even wouldn’t have survived — if I wasn’t so fit,” he said. It’s likely that family history played a role in his heart disease. Slocum says that many people in his family, including his father, had cardiac problems. Exercise is a vital way to ensure that his heart recovers and stays healthy.
Dr. Etherton was deeply moved by the fact that the AED he donated ended up saving the life
of a dear friend. “God works in mysterious ways. And the one most important thing I have
taken from this — it truly does help when you are philanthropic Giving can really make a
difference in people’s lives.”
Everything came together to allow Slocum to make it through the cardiac crisis — a
defibrillator donated by a friend; a YMCA employee who knew how to use it; quick-thinking,
well-trained officers on their day off; dedicated paramedics; and a rapid, high-tech
response at Peninsula Regional. Slocum is grateful to all who helped him that day. “I am a man of faith, and I believe that it was by God’s grace that all the proper people were lined up to keep me alive,” Slocum says.
This day forever changed my friend Stephen's life and he is not missing a beat in allowing God to use this event to impact the lives of others! He is the spark that has produced incredible growth in our men's group.
You will never know...
Something to think about... You will never know what God can do with what you have until you bring it to him.
How true!
Today is Thursday and I am seeing that reality lived out in my life! Our Men's group is growing and growing and growing... I am told that today, we expect to see several new men join us!
And it all got it's spark by a friend of mine who decided to bring all that he is to God and watch what God does in his life and with his friends! And how awesome it is to see what God is doing! Guys who have attended church most of their lives are coming alive in Christ. Guys who have never been part of a church are also coming alive in Christ. And it is so exciting to see! But none of it would have happened if my friend hadn't been willing to bring his whole life to God and watch what God would do!
You will never know what God can do with what you have until you bring it to him. What are you waiting for? Bring what you have to God and watch what he does! You will be amazed for sure!
How true!
Today is Thursday and I am seeing that reality lived out in my life! Our Men's group is growing and growing and growing... I am told that today, we expect to see several new men join us!
And it all got it's spark by a friend of mine who decided to bring all that he is to God and watch what God does in his life and with his friends! And how awesome it is to see what God is doing! Guys who have attended church most of their lives are coming alive in Christ. Guys who have never been part of a church are also coming alive in Christ. And it is so exciting to see! But none of it would have happened if my friend hadn't been willing to bring his whole life to God and watch what God would do!
You will never know what God can do with what you have until you bring it to him. What are you waiting for? Bring what you have to God and watch what he does! You will be amazed for sure!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
More thoughts on Following...
Leonard Sweet has written some powerful thoughts on following Jesus in his book "I am a Follower..."
"The church is led not by leaders but by Christ. The head of the church is Christ. Everyone else is a follower."
"Jesus says, 'Among you it will be different.'
You want to be first? Be last.
You want to be greatest? Be least.
You want to find yourself? Lose yourself!
You want to be exalted? Be humble.
The first question in a followership culture is this: Is it different among us?"
"It is time we owned up to the false category of leader and its idolatry. Leadership is a function. Followership is an identity. If we don't recognize this, we are no different from the ancient Israelites in this exchange with God in 1 Samuel 8:
People: "We want a king (leader). Give us a king (leader) like the other nations.
God: "They have rejected me as their King (Leader)."
"To follow Jesus is a way, a belonging. To follow Jesus is a truth, a believing. To follow Jesus is a life, a behaving. It is to have a mission to be in relationship, to live an incarnate, abundant life."
And from Eugene Peterson: "The Jesus way wedded to the Jesus truth brings about the Jesus life."
"The church is led not by leaders but by Christ. The head of the church is Christ. Everyone else is a follower."
"Jesus says, 'Among you it will be different.'
You want to be first? Be last.
You want to be greatest? Be least.
You want to find yourself? Lose yourself!
You want to be exalted? Be humble.
The first question in a followership culture is this: Is it different among us?"
"It is time we owned up to the false category of leader and its idolatry. Leadership is a function. Followership is an identity. If we don't recognize this, we are no different from the ancient Israelites in this exchange with God in 1 Samuel 8:
People: "We want a king (leader). Give us a king (leader) like the other nations.
God: "They have rejected me as their King (Leader)."
"To follow Jesus is a way, a belonging. To follow Jesus is a truth, a believing. To follow Jesus is a life, a behaving. It is to have a mission to be in relationship, to live an incarnate, abundant life."
And from Eugene Peterson: "The Jesus way wedded to the Jesus truth brings about the Jesus life."
Monday, March 5, 2012
Third treatment a charm...
I just can't say enough about this acupuncture treatments I am having! Today was my third treatment and I am still seeing improvement! I am truly grateful and amazed. HIGHLY recommend Natalie at Red Dragon Wellness Center.
Today, we tried to address a numbness in my finger that is a result of a misuse of a hunting knife last fall and it is also responding! WOW!
I currently have three ear tacks in my right ear and will keep them in until my next treatment on Thursday. I am supposed to massage them regularly. I can tell they are there and it is a good feeling.
SO EXCITED!!!!!
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Today, we tried to address a numbness in my finger that is a result of a misuse of a hunting knife last fall and it is also responding! WOW!
I currently have three ear tacks in my right ear and will keep them in until my next treatment on Thursday. I am supposed to massage them regularly. I can tell they are there and it is a good feeling.
SO EXCITED!!!!!
The ear tacks that stay in till Thursday!
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Following... the most underrated form of leadership.
I am reading Leonard Sweet's book, " I am a follower: the way, truth, and life of following Jesus." It is EXCELLENT! Here are some profound quotes from the book...
"We have been told our entire lives that we shoulc be leaders, that we need more leaders, leaders, leaders. But the truth is that the greatest way to create a movement is to be a follower and to show others how to follow. Following is the most underrated form of leadership in existence."
"Jesus wasn't looking for leaders at all. Jesus was looking for followers.... the life story of all Christianity should be 'they left all and followed Jesus.'"
"This is the greatest tragedy of the church in the last fifty years: We have changed Paul's words, 'Follow me as I follow Christ,' to 'Follow me as I lead for Christ.'"
"Jesus said, 'Go and make disciples.' We stopped and built worship warehouses. Jesus said, 'follow me.' We heard, 'Be a leader.' Paul said, 'Do the work of an evangelist.' We've done the work of a marketer. Somewhere back in the past half centrury, we diagnosed the church's problem as a crisis of leading, not a crisis of following. It's as if we read Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship and decided we'd rather talk about something else entirely.'
The Jesus paradox is that only Christians lead by following."
"Fundamental to biblical faith are two categorical imperatives: 1. Jesus is the leader. 2. We are his followers."
"We have been told our entire lives that we shoulc be leaders, that we need more leaders, leaders, leaders. But the truth is that the greatest way to create a movement is to be a follower and to show others how to follow. Following is the most underrated form of leadership in existence."
"Jesus wasn't looking for leaders at all. Jesus was looking for followers.... the life story of all Christianity should be 'they left all and followed Jesus.'"
"This is the greatest tragedy of the church in the last fifty years: We have changed Paul's words, 'Follow me as I follow Christ,' to 'Follow me as I lead for Christ.'"
"Jesus said, 'Go and make disciples.' We stopped and built worship warehouses. Jesus said, 'follow me.' We heard, 'Be a leader.' Paul said, 'Do the work of an evangelist.' We've done the work of a marketer. Somewhere back in the past half centrury, we diagnosed the church's problem as a crisis of leading, not a crisis of following. It's as if we read Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship and decided we'd rather talk about something else entirely.'
The Jesus paradox is that only Christians lead by following."
"Fundamental to biblical faith are two categorical imperatives: 1. Jesus is the leader. 2. We are his followers."
Sunday, March 4, 2012
WOW! WOW! WOW!
I continue to be amazed at the results of just two acupuncture treatments! WOW! WOW! WOW! I would not believe it had I not experienced it with my own face! But since I have, I am a believer now! And you can bet that I will tell anyone who I know or meet who has had issues with a stroke or bells palsy to go get acupuncture immediately. To think that I could have been done with this facial paralysis a long time ago and because I was fearful or doubtful of the benefits, I lived with the paralysis when I wouldn't have had to do that!
Unbelievable! WOW! WOW! WOW!
I am excited for my next treatment on Monday and I even have on schedules for Thursday should I need that too!
I wish now that I had taken pictures of my face before, so that I could show the before and after pics. It is a HUGE difference!
Unbelievable! WOW! WOW! WOW!
I am excited for my next treatment on Monday and I even have on schedules for Thursday should I need that too!
I wish now that I had taken pictures of my face before, so that I could show the before and after pics. It is a HUGE difference!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
WOW, doesn't even begin to tell the story!
I am at a loss for words to describe how I feel after two treatments of Acupuncture! Actually, the first treatment brought almost instant results and the second has increased the affect! WOW!
My only regret is that I didn't do this months ago!
On March 12 it will be a year since I began my journey with Ramsey Hunt Syndrome and the affects of the Bells Palsy on my face have been a persistent annoyance! I have tried to be patient and tolerate it but I am at that point where I have about had enough. I tried facial massages and they were very helpful but I only saw very small changes after each treatment. A freind had suggested that Acupuncture would be helpful but for some reason, I was hesitant to go that route... but NOT ANYMORE! WOW!
I can't say enough good about this process and what it has given me. I can purse my lips now and my right eye no longer goes tightly shut... I can actually see out of it when I purse my lips. When I smile, my right eye doesn't close as much as it did. In fact today after my treatment, Natalie (the specialist) asked if she could show me something and then grabbed the mirror off the wall and told me to smile. WOW!
The first treatment was 14 needles and this one was 20. There was no real discomfort from the needles and both times I felt like my skin was coming alive. Today I could even feel tears in my right eye, something I haven't felt in a long time! WOW!
If anyone is local and wants to try Acupuncture... you can find Natalie on Facebook on the Red Dragon Wellness Center wall. HIGHLY recommend her!
I hope to have a couple more treatments next week so that by the year anniversary of this journey, it will be behind me!
My only regret is that I didn't do this months ago!
On March 12 it will be a year since I began my journey with Ramsey Hunt Syndrome and the affects of the Bells Palsy on my face have been a persistent annoyance! I have tried to be patient and tolerate it but I am at that point where I have about had enough. I tried facial massages and they were very helpful but I only saw very small changes after each treatment. A freind had suggested that Acupuncture would be helpful but for some reason, I was hesitant to go that route... but NOT ANYMORE! WOW!
I can't say enough good about this process and what it has given me. I can purse my lips now and my right eye no longer goes tightly shut... I can actually see out of it when I purse my lips. When I smile, my right eye doesn't close as much as it did. In fact today after my treatment, Natalie (the specialist) asked if she could show me something and then grabbed the mirror off the wall and told me to smile. WOW!
The first treatment was 14 needles and this one was 20. There was no real discomfort from the needles and both times I felt like my skin was coming alive. Today I could even feel tears in my right eye, something I haven't felt in a long time! WOW!
If anyone is local and wants to try Acupuncture... you can find Natalie on Facebook on the Red Dragon Wellness Center wall. HIGHLY recommend her!
I hope to have a couple more treatments next week so that by the year anniversary of this journey, it will be behind me!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Leap Church....
On Leap Day, I was in a local coffee shop working on my sermon and at a table near me were four 20somethings talking about church connections. I couldn't help but listen in on their conversation as they were kinda loud - especially the "leader" of the group, who happened to be an assistant pastor at a local church.
These four 20somethings were talking about the various churches that they had been part of in their short lifetime and all four of them had one thing in common. They had been part of more churches in their short life time than I have been part of in my 46 years! Two of them rattled off 6 different local churches that they "used to attend"... starting with the church they went to with their parents or in one case grandparents. Their choice of churches got progressively more contemporary. Although the last three churches that they named I would put on the same level in that category.
In reflecting on their conversation, I had a thought. It used to be said that on average a pastor leaves a church about every 4 years and it takes a minimum of 7 years for the foundation to get set to make changes in a church and see fruit. So, the implication was that if Pastors leave before they have the stage set to produce fruit, no wonder our churches are not making much progress... about all they can do it get to know the new pastor and then it is time to do that all over again.
In relation to this overheard conversation, I had this thought... what if one of the current diseases the church is facing is not that pastors don't hang around long enough but that participants practice Leap Church too much. Think about it... if 2 20somethings have been part of 6 churches in their short life, what impact have they had in the mission of those churches? NOT MUCH! It seems they are spending most of their time getting to know new people in the churches and not much else.
I certainly see evidence of this disease in our churches. It comes from our consumer society where in relation to the church we become consumers of religious goods rather than disciples of Jesus. Something to think about!
These four 20somethings were talking about the various churches that they had been part of in their short lifetime and all four of them had one thing in common. They had been part of more churches in their short life time than I have been part of in my 46 years! Two of them rattled off 6 different local churches that they "used to attend"... starting with the church they went to with their parents or in one case grandparents. Their choice of churches got progressively more contemporary. Although the last three churches that they named I would put on the same level in that category.
In reflecting on their conversation, I had a thought. It used to be said that on average a pastor leaves a church about every 4 years and it takes a minimum of 7 years for the foundation to get set to make changes in a church and see fruit. So, the implication was that if Pastors leave before they have the stage set to produce fruit, no wonder our churches are not making much progress... about all they can do it get to know the new pastor and then it is time to do that all over again.
In relation to this overheard conversation, I had this thought... what if one of the current diseases the church is facing is not that pastors don't hang around long enough but that participants practice Leap Church too much. Think about it... if 2 20somethings have been part of 6 churches in their short life, what impact have they had in the mission of those churches? NOT MUCH! It seems they are spending most of their time getting to know new people in the churches and not much else.
I certainly see evidence of this disease in our churches. It comes from our consumer society where in relation to the church we become consumers of religious goods rather than disciples of Jesus. Something to think about!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
LEAP Day!
Today is Leap Day... a day that only comes once every 4 years. So, here is what I have been thinking... we ought to do something that we wouldn't normally do... leap... take a risk.... try something new.
Not sure what that will be for me today, but I am pondering the thought. What risk can I take? How can I leap from where I am to another place?
Taking a risk often involves moving out of a place of comfort. What place of comfort will I move out of today? I am open to taking a risk... moving from a place of comfort... just not sure what it will be.
What about you?
An interesting thing I read this morning on a blog that I read regularly. The pastor was announcing that their Saturday worship gathering was no longer going to happen in a space that they have been meeting in for years (they own it too) and transitioning to a new location... all because they were out of room at the first location and had several hundred more seats at the new location. And here is what caught my attention about what he said..."While I love the worship space and vibe of the (first location), we are out of room and if you can’t invite a friend to church because there is no place to sit, then you are defeating the purpose for which you exist."
Not sure what that will be for me today, but I am pondering the thought. What risk can I take? How can I leap from where I am to another place?
Taking a risk often involves moving out of a place of comfort. What place of comfort will I move out of today? I am open to taking a risk... moving from a place of comfort... just not sure what it will be.
What about you?
An interesting thing I read this morning on a blog that I read regularly. The pastor was announcing that their Saturday worship gathering was no longer going to happen in a space that they have been meeting in for years (they own it too) and transitioning to a new location... all because they were out of room at the first location and had several hundred more seats at the new location. And here is what caught my attention about what he said..."While I love the worship space and vibe of the (first location), we are out of room and if you can’t invite a friend to church because there is no place to sit, then you are defeating the purpose for which you exist."
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Really Sweet!
Just got a really sweet phone call! I don't think in my 22 years of ministry I have gotten such a call! I have had people tell me to my face similar things, but none that I can remember taking the time to find the phone number and call.
The call was from the father of a young woman whose family is about to move away and thus leave Community of Joy. Her father was simply calling to say thank you to Sharon and I and Community of Joy for taking his daughter and her family "under our wings" for these past 3.5 years. He also wanted an email address so that he could send a thanks to the congregation. VERY TOUCHING!
The call was from the father of a young woman whose family is about to move away and thus leave Community of Joy. Her father was simply calling to say thank you to Sharon and I and Community of Joy for taking his daughter and her family "under our wings" for these past 3.5 years. He also wanted an email address so that he could send a thanks to the congregation. VERY TOUCHING!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Nothing to mess with...
Your heart is nothing to mess with!
Today, one of my longtime walking buddy's at the mall told me that she was having chest pains yesterday. Actually she has had them before and has seen her family doc. But today, while walking she had sharp pains in her chest and had to stop immediately. We were able to get her nitro spray for her and it eased the pain enough that she was going to go on to work. I refused to let her go anywhere on her own and when we were unable to get her to go to the ER, I drove her home in Seaford so that her husband could take her to the doc. I am praying that she gets more than just a visit to her family doc.
Your heart is nothing to mess with! If you have pains, it is a warning sign and is best if you get it checked out while you can! I know I am stubborn about seeing doctors, but if it had been me, you can bet your next paycheck that I would have dropped everything and gone immediately to the ER!
Again, your heart is nothing to mess with! God made our bodies so that we experience pain when things aren't right and that pain is a warning to get checked out. Don't hesitate!
Today, one of my longtime walking buddy's at the mall told me that she was having chest pains yesterday. Actually she has had them before and has seen her family doc. But today, while walking she had sharp pains in her chest and had to stop immediately. We were able to get her nitro spray for her and it eased the pain enough that she was going to go on to work. I refused to let her go anywhere on her own and when we were unable to get her to go to the ER, I drove her home in Seaford so that her husband could take her to the doc. I am praying that she gets more than just a visit to her family doc.
Your heart is nothing to mess with! If you have pains, it is a warning sign and is best if you get it checked out while you can! I know I am stubborn about seeing doctors, but if it had been me, you can bet your next paycheck that I would have dropped everything and gone immediately to the ER!
Again, your heart is nothing to mess with! God made our bodies so that we experience pain when things aren't right and that pain is a warning to get checked out. Don't hesitate!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Back To Normal
It is always a time of mixed emotions when our shelter experience comes to an end. On one hand many of us who have given lots of our time during the two weeks are more than ready to get our lives back to some sense of normalcy (whatever that is!). And on the other hand, we are sad to see our guests go... at least most of them!
At Commnunity of Joy, we are delighted to be able to host these two weeks and provide our guest a respite from the dead of winter by showing them God's love and hospitality!
One final thought on these two weeks... on Friday morning... the last morning I was there from an overnight, I overheard one of the breakfast guys say as he was dropping off the breakfast... "in my next life, I hope I am homeless." And my heart broke... in my mind, I said to myself, you don't have a clue what you are saying! While it may look like these guys have it made during their time with us, they don't!
The bottom line is they don't have anyplace to go that is theirs! They have to sleep in a room of 19 other men - the sounds and smells of that experience is enough to deter me! They can't have a shower whenever they want. They don't always have clean clothes to put on. They often don't know where they will spend their day. Many don't have regular contact with family. Their friends will turn on them in a heartbeat, if they have something the so called "friend" needs. They have to rely on the goodness of others for even the basics. If they are hungry, they can't go buy a snack. Many of them have addictions that are controling their lives. And that is just a few of the struggles they face.
It is always my prayer leading up to and during these two weeks that the experience of hosting the guys will bring about change in us! That we will learn a bit more about not judging others. That this experience will soften our hearts and show us better how to love unconditionally! For that is the kind of love Jesus shares and it is the kind of love that he calls us to share too!
At Commnunity of Joy, we are delighted to be able to host these two weeks and provide our guest a respite from the dead of winter by showing them God's love and hospitality!
One final thought on these two weeks... on Friday morning... the last morning I was there from an overnight, I overheard one of the breakfast guys say as he was dropping off the breakfast... "in my next life, I hope I am homeless." And my heart broke... in my mind, I said to myself, you don't have a clue what you are saying! While it may look like these guys have it made during their time with us, they don't!
The bottom line is they don't have anyplace to go that is theirs! They have to sleep in a room of 19 other men - the sounds and smells of that experience is enough to deter me! They can't have a shower whenever they want. They don't always have clean clothes to put on. They often don't know where they will spend their day. Many don't have regular contact with family. Their friends will turn on them in a heartbeat, if they have something the so called "friend" needs. They have to rely on the goodness of others for even the basics. If they are hungry, they can't go buy a snack. Many of them have addictions that are controling their lives. And that is just a few of the struggles they face.
It is always my prayer leading up to and during these two weeks that the experience of hosting the guys will bring about change in us! That we will learn a bit more about not judging others. That this experience will soften our hearts and show us better how to love unconditionally! For that is the kind of love Jesus shares and it is the kind of love that he calls us to share too!
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