Helping Out With the Simplest of Things

The other day I was visiting one of our members at work, when a lady came in needing some assistance getting her gas cap off. He offered to help her in a second, when he was free, but standing around not doing anything at the time, I volunteered to help. We walked outside and I tried to turn the cap and it wouldn’t turn any more. So, I thought I would give it a tug, and it came right off. I noticed that she had the kind of gloves on that wouldn’t allow for much grip, so I don’t know if that prevented her from being able to pull it out or not. Regardless, the solution ended up being very simple.

This reminded me how easy it is to help someone in need. If we are willing to help anyone who comes our way, then, most likely, we will be given the opportunity. Sometimes it takes being-at-the-right-place-at-the-right-time to be able to help someone in need. I am a firm believer in connecting the dots. If she ever comes back in there she will have two good things to think about. First, the employee’s willingness to help her out, and two, someone who was there to help her out.

The “connect the dots” part is that both the employee and I go to church together. The seed of kindness has been planted. He can continue to water and nurture the planting. I don’t know if it will come in my lifetime that I will see the seed come to full growth, or if it will come from her spreading the news about how someone from that store helped her, which may send someone else there. Another person would be another dot on a branch off of that situation. And who knows what may come of that.

Help someone out by lending a hand, an ear, or your heart. You never know what God will do with even the simplest of things!

Appreciating all of you!

Rule #1: We Are Family

The Ron Clark Story came out in 2006, and when I saw the preview I knew I wanted to see it. When I saw it, I hoped I could have the movie. The dilemma was, it was a TV movie, not out in theaters. Thankfully, after some research, I found out it was made to DVD...and thanks to my beautiful wife, this Christmas she bought it for me.

Ron establishes several rules for his classroom, 55 to date. One of the first ones that he put in his classroom was the one that is in the picture...We are family. This applies so much to church life. As a new chapter begins in my life, this was a strong point that I want people to understand. Here are some applications to use from this lesson...

1. Pray for each person in the church on a regular basis.
2. Pray when something/someone bothers you.
3. Pray for ways you can be of service to your family
   
4. Approach someone when you have concerns
5. Encourage, commend, congratulate, uplift, and anything else positive that you can think of to those who are in the family.
6. Be the first to put your hand out to greet someone or to hug someone's neck
7. Reflect on your imperfection before you point out someone else's.
8. Appreciate those who are in your family - even if you have to look a while to find something to appreciate.

Click on the title, Ron Clark Story Trailer, to go to a website to see the trailer, especially if you have never seen the movie before.

This movie is probably one of my top ten movies, specifically in the drama category. It is very inspirational to try to help others know more!

Appreciating my "family"!

One Year Ago

I call it the "curse to the parent", that feeling you get when you remember your child at a younger age, but want to see them grow up. Being an independent person, I never really appreciated hearing about the times when I was a baby, etc. I was ready to fly! Still am...however, now I fly with a wife and a son.

Oliver was born Friday, January 4th, at 4:04 in the afternoon. When my wife and I first started dating, we talked of the number of kids we wanted to have. I wanted two and she wanted four. When we were married, we waited a while before pursuing being parents. However, that wait went month after month, year after year, for eight and a half years. Then, out of the blue, (and a few weeks after watching Facing the Giants, click here to see that entry from Aubrey's blog), Aubrey wanted to take a test. We'd taken several of these throughout our marriage, all t0 turn up negative. I bought the "two pack" because we always want to make sure. I was playing Xbox on a Sunday afternoon, and she came in after taking the test... "I think you're going to have to buy me something for mother's day" she said, with tears in her eyes. Immediately I had tears in my eyes. WOW! We're going to be parents!

Oliver was the "New Year's Baby", but since we weren't from that county, where we had him, he got the "parting gift". It was still very nice. (You can read the write up by clicking here).

He is an awesome boy. People always say how "happy" he is. Last night he got to eat his first bowl of ice cream, with strawberry topping. YUM! He's basically walking all around! He only went to the doctor once, outside of well care visits, his entire first year. He's healthy...what a blessing! He's very much a "text book" baby...walking, crawling, getting teeth, all in the normal time frames. He fits into the proper sized clothes, etc. What a blessing!

My wife and I could not be any happier with him! He's the greatest! Though I am cursed with the memories of him as a baby, and wanting to hold him at 8 lbs, I am thankful for the future!

I am sure practically all parents have the feeling that I have for my son, so to say, "love your kids", would be redundant.

Thankful! Appreciative! Bursting with pride!!! As I remember one year ago and look at him now.

Wiping the Slate Clean

Happy New Year!

2009 is upon us! Each new year brings about thought of "Starting over". Whether it was with a resolution or some other way, a new year is always a good reminder to start over with something. Fresh starts generally make us feel better. Lugging the weight creates mental and physical fatigue, and starting over allows us to get rid of that weight.

I received an e-mail this week, through one of my subscribed e-mails (AllProDad.com) and it addressed four things it means to forgive. Forgiveness goes along the lines of starting over. Lugging around that chip on your shoulder can get tiring, so why not forgive that person? Use this year to wipe the slate clean! That brings us to this week's segment...

Author Ken Sande says that when you really forgive someone - your parent, your spouse, your child, your friend - you are making four specific promises to yourself and to them. You are saying:

Number 1: "I will not dwell on this incident."

Number 2: "I will not bring this incident up and use it against you."

Number 3: "I will not talk to others about it."

Number 4: "I will not allow this matter to stand between us or hinder our personal relationship."

You may or may not have to tell a person that you have forgiven them, depending on the specific instance. However, if approaching someone is needed, inform them that you want to be at peace with things and have forgiven them for what they did.

If you are a part of the church, we are not really given the choice whether or not to live at peace with each other. We are called to forgive. Don't make it more difficult on your day-to-day life...forgive! Lose the "grudge" weight!

May God bless you as you start your new year!

Have You Made Your Resolution Yet?

As this year draws to a close and next year is around the corner, some of you will embark on the tradition of making a resolution. What will you resolve to do in 2009? Will it be lose weight, spend less, exercise more, or something else?

I would like to make one suggestion. Whether you want to call it a “resolution” or not is up to you. How about making a plan to do something each month that will help you with your walk with God? Here are some suggestions…

1. Pray for 30 days about 30 different things than you normally do
2. Read a book during one month that has a religious meaning (i.e. Purpose Driven Life, Come Thirsty, Twelve Ordinary Men, etc.)
3. Attend a workshop, lectureship, Ladies’ Day, etc. (i.e. Tulsa Workshop)
4. Write, call, or text a different person everyday, for a month, with the purpose of encouraging them.
5. Host a movie night and invite someone you wouldn’t normally invite
6. Plan an outreach event that helps get our church exposed to the community.
7. Help out someone (aka serving) by volunteering to do a task for them – laundry, babysit, wash car, etc.
8. Go to a Christian/Gospel concert

Maybe you can think of a few more to put on the list. You can do one of these activities more than once during the year. Just make sure that it isn’t losing its impact in making your walk with God more enjoyable.

May your 2009 be filled with many “WOW” moments as you see God working in your life!

Happy 2009!

Throw Out the Life Line

Recently, I was watching television at my in-laws and we flipped by a news story that involved a break in a water main causing a river-like effect on a city street. Some of the 911 calls were being aired and the panic was evident. Their cars started to no longer be secure on the street as the water was starting to move them. They needed help. They needed rescued. That is the picture to the right.

There are still, today, millions of souls that need to be rescued from the rushing waves of sin. Some have never felt what it is like to be saved, where others have known what it is like, but been "washed away" from the shores of salvation to the river of a sinful lifestyle.

Yesterday, we looked at a challenge to throw out the life line to those we come in contact with. To all be active in doing it to create a net effect instead of a few single lines out trying to rescue. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Pray that God will give you the necessary sight to see those who need rescuing.
2. Pray and decide to be bold enough to "throw" out the lifeline to those who may need rescuing
3. Send an e-mail, a card, or a text to someone to invite them to our church - If they have never gone, tell them it would be a great way to start the new year. PS - Maybe even offer to feed their family (whether you make it or you eat out) - people usually don't pass up free food!
4. Ask them if they've been "rescued" from anything - tell them a rescue story of yours - whether it is spiritual or life experience.
5. Ask someone in the church if they've thrown out the lifeline this week - then ask how did it go.
6. Invite someone to our New Year's Eve party
7. Look with anticipation how God and you will team up to start the rescue process for someone

Lots of different ways we can be throwing out the life line to those needing rescued. As we are all doing our part I look with anticipation at how big the rescue will be!

Let me know your rescue/life line stories by leaving a comment...

Have a great week...Happy New Year!

Anticipating the opportunities...

No Santa? Author Unknown

I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit my Grandma on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything.

She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go" "Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked.

"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through it doors, Grandma handed me twenty dollars. That was a bundle in those days "Take this money and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. Suddenly I thought of Bobbie Decker. He sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobbie Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. I fingered the twenty-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobbie Decker a coat. I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and write, "To Bobbie, From Santa Claus" on it - Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobbie Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. From there we watched Bobbie come to the door and pick up his present from "Santa."

Forty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team."

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.