Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Yesterday was Mother's Day, and what a day it was.
Our kids all surprised us with a Covid-19 social distancing visit.
Our neighbor set the whole thing up for us to see each other in her field. We had a picnic.
My family growing up was a loving family, but we just didn't say the "L" word to each other. I learned to say the "L" word from my grandfather. If you want to know more on how that took place you will have to read, "things my grandfather taught me". You can find it two places:
1. In the book "Dancing with God"
2. Somewhere in this blog site
I say the "L" word a lot.
Now my kids and grandkids do too.
Over the years I have done more than my fair share of funerals and memorials. One thing that has always bothered me when I did them was how people gushed over the dead. Many times it was the first time that they had said anything.
I would hear, " I never, or he/she never...
And they would go on to say how much this person has impacted them or meant to them even though they never told them.
Another thing I would hear is, "My one regret is that I never told them that I loved them and I wish I had."
Why is it we tend to wait until it is too late to say these words?
I know all the pseudo-psychological mumbo jumbo on the why's and why-not's of not saying these words.
I also know that people are perfectly fine driving down a road at 60-miles per hour with traffic coming in the other direction at the same speed. They feel perfectly safe because there is a double yellow line and people cannot pass.
I am also very aware that the double yellow line is nothing more than paint on a road and doesn't stop anyone from coming into my lane.
Perception is a funny thing.
We perceive we are safe and so we are.
Why don't we all live just a bit more dangerously and risk not getting the answer we think we need to hear and just tell people the "L" word. Tell them the "L" word before they are gone.
My parents know I love them.
My wife knows I love her.
My kids know I love them.
My grandkids know I love them.
My "Y" Family knows I love them.
The list just kind of goes on and on...
These people know I love them because:
1. I tell them.
2. I show them.
3. I brag about them when I meet others.
Paint on a road.
Words unspoken.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
My Book
Monday, May 11, 2020
Friday, May 8, 2020
My name is Daryl
Good morning,
I Pray the day finds you well.
My brain hurts.
I can't stop thinking about the butterfly I saw the other day.
I feel as if our whole country has been in this process of transformation and moving from our former selves to what will be our new and improved selves. Much the same way a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
In my minds eye I see us in the cocoon waiting to emerge.
Speaking of transformation; My Executive Director has been in quite a process of transformation himself. He has been working very hard. He has been doing his very best to get the word our about our "Y". He has been working so hard that the one thing he hasn't had time to do is shave.
My executive Director Daryl (again, not his real name but every good story...) has even been on T.V. you may recognize him.
Here is his LinkedIn photo I found.
Here is his T.V. debut!
https://youtu.be/AeavqyDYQtQ
Daryl has been very busy talking about the "Y"; in fact in his T.V. debut he talks about how people don't seem to notice us anymore. How even though we are busy doing the right thing and doing the right thing doesn't mean that we have to be acknowledged, there is a little part of him that misses the fact that people used to talk about the "Y" and now it makes him feel invisible.
Maybe one of the good things that will come out of this pandemic; when we come out of our societal cocoon, will be the fact that we truly see each other. Not just look though us, or past us, but truly look at us. to say, "How are you doing?" and mean it.
One of the things that really bothers Daryl is that people don't even bother to get to know him well enough to find out his real name.
If you really want to hurt Daryl's feelings just call him Bigfoot. Oh, he won't correct you, but his heart will crack a bit when you do.
My prayer is that we start to truly see one another; to ask, "How are you doing?" and really mean it. To start to see that person down the street as our neighbor and not just some person down the street.
When we come out of this societal cocoon may we love one another as Jesus commands us to do.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I Pray the day finds you well.
My brain hurts.
I can't stop thinking about the butterfly I saw the other day.
I feel as if our whole country has been in this process of transformation and moving from our former selves to what will be our new and improved selves. Much the same way a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
In my minds eye I see us in the cocoon waiting to emerge.
Speaking of transformation; My Executive Director has been in quite a process of transformation himself. He has been working very hard. He has been doing his very best to get the word our about our "Y". He has been working so hard that the one thing he hasn't had time to do is shave.
My executive Director Daryl (again, not his real name but every good story...) has even been on T.V. you may recognize him.
Here is his LinkedIn photo I found.
Here is his T.V. debut!
https://youtu.be/AeavqyDYQtQ
Daryl has been very busy talking about the "Y"; in fact in his T.V. debut he talks about how people don't seem to notice us anymore. How even though we are busy doing the right thing and doing the right thing doesn't mean that we have to be acknowledged, there is a little part of him that misses the fact that people used to talk about the "Y" and now it makes him feel invisible.
Maybe one of the good things that will come out of this pandemic; when we come out of our societal cocoon, will be the fact that we truly see each other. Not just look though us, or past us, but truly look at us. to say, "How are you doing?" and mean it.
One of the things that really bothers Daryl is that people don't even bother to get to know him well enough to find out his real name.
If you really want to hurt Daryl's feelings just call him Bigfoot. Oh, he won't correct you, but his heart will crack a bit when you do.
My prayer is that we start to truly see one another; to ask, "How are you doing?" and really mean it. To start to see that person down the street as our neighbor and not just some person down the street.
When we come out of this societal cocoon may we love one another as Jesus commands us to do.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Did you see the moon?
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Did you notice the moon last night? It was huge!!
I was actually in my house, working on something, can't really remember what it was at the moment, I can't seem to remember a lot of things. I can remember that I should remember them but the actual remembering part seems to escape me. My wife says that I can be forgetful, she tells me that often, I guess that I forget that too.
Anyway, I was in my house when my neighbor called and said, "Look at the moon!"
So I did.
It was amazing, the moon that is. It (the moon) was clear, crisp, full, bright, and big.
I watched the moon for quite a while.
It is fun to watch the moon, you can see it move.
I have watched the moon in its various phases over the many years, I can remember that. So much for me being forgetful!!
I remember something God said. He said, "I will place a brighter Light and a lesser light in the sky. The brighter light I will call day, and the lesser light I will call night.
I was entranced by the moon. I was entranced as I watched it move across the sky.
Then a still small voice said, "The moon is always moving, you just have to sit still long enough to see it."
How often are we so busy running that we fail to see the things moving around us? How often do we say, "I don't see them doing anything, or why does it have to be this way, why doesn't it change?"
The funny thing about the moon moving is the only way you can see it move is by putting it against a stationary object (like a tree, or a building) sit very still and look at both the moon and the stationary object. Only then can you see it move. Looking at the moon solely against the expanse of the night sky you can't see it move, or sure you can see it moved, but not moving.
This is also true for the, ""I don't see them doing anything, or why does it have to be this way, why doesn't it change?" questions.
If we don't sit very still and intentionally watch it (whatever the "it" is at the moment) you won't see it change. Or sure you can see it changed over a long period of time, but not changing.
Then I forget that I asked the question in the first place. I forget that I was wondering why that thing didn't change and I am off to the next, "Why is that, that way? why doesn't it change?" question again.
I will remember what that still soft voice said, "The moon is always moving, you just have to sit still long enough to see it."
I will work on being more intentional.
About having eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to accept.
Did you see the moon?
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
Did you notice the moon last night? It was huge!!
I was actually in my house, working on something, can't really remember what it was at the moment, I can't seem to remember a lot of things. I can remember that I should remember them but the actual remembering part seems to escape me. My wife says that I can be forgetful, she tells me that often, I guess that I forget that too.
Anyway, I was in my house when my neighbor called and said, "Look at the moon!"
So I did.
It was amazing, the moon that is. It (the moon) was clear, crisp, full, bright, and big.
I watched the moon for quite a while.
It is fun to watch the moon, you can see it move.
I have watched the moon in its various phases over the many years, I can remember that. So much for me being forgetful!!
I remember something God said. He said, "I will place a brighter Light and a lesser light in the sky. The brighter light I will call day, and the lesser light I will call night.
I was entranced by the moon. I was entranced as I watched it move across the sky.
Then a still small voice said, "The moon is always moving, you just have to sit still long enough to see it."
How often are we so busy running that we fail to see the things moving around us? How often do we say, "I don't see them doing anything, or why does it have to be this way, why doesn't it change?"
The funny thing about the moon moving is the only way you can see it move is by putting it against a stationary object (like a tree, or a building) sit very still and look at both the moon and the stationary object. Only then can you see it move. Looking at the moon solely against the expanse of the night sky you can't see it move, or sure you can see it moved, but not moving.
This is also true for the, ""I don't see them doing anything, or why does it have to be this way, why doesn't it change?" questions.
If we don't sit very still and intentionally watch it (whatever the "it" is at the moment) you won't see it change. Or sure you can see it changed over a long period of time, but not changing.
Then I forget that I asked the question in the first place. I forget that I was wondering why that thing didn't change and I am off to the next, "Why is that, that way? why doesn't it change?" question again.
I will remember what that still soft voice said, "The moon is always moving, you just have to sit still long enough to see it."
I will work on being more intentional.
About having eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to accept.
Did you see the moon?
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
I save lives
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
One of the things that people will know almost immediately when they meet Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor our CEO is:
1. He has a really long name.
2. His LinkedIn photo looks like Thomas the Train.
3. His mission in life is to save lives.
In fact if you were to ask him what he does he would say, "I save lives."
If a person's interest gets peaked by his response and says, "Really, how?"
Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor would say:
I teach kids safety around water.
I help with spiritual wellbeing.
I help with healthy aging.
I inspire kids through camp.
All this I get to do as the CEO of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette.
That is what Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor would say.
And, it is true.
For the longest time people have known that the YMCA or the "Y" as we have been called for the last umpteen years, has been in the business of saving lives.
For the past umpteen years we have done this through programs that resided in buildings and we got very good at it.
Now things have changed.
Now there are lives that still need to be saved, but people are distancing right now, buildings are basically empty. so the question becomes, "How do we save lives now?"
We have been asking this question a lot.
We still have people that need our help, we have:
Shut-ins (those that cannot leave their house.)
Kids that need help with math, science, English, math
Kids that need a P.E. class
Moms and dads at their wits end trying to either work from home or find a new job all the while being a teacher too.
We have people that need a little connection
We have people struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem...
We still have a need for safety around water.
The list goes on and on and on...
Do you know what is really cool about the YMCA, the "Y" for the last umpteen years?
We fill niches, we are niche fillers.
We identify a societal need and fill it.
Lets take:
Shut-ins (those that cannot leave their house.)
We are in the midst of developing the "Y"-Cares team. This team will help shut-ins. The "Y"-Cares team will:
Do yard work
Pick up groceries
Help get seniors connected with Telehealth and virtual senior classes.
the "Y"-Cares team will do this and more as it develops, the important thing is that shut-ins will know that the "Y" cares. It will save their lives.
How about:
Moms and dads at their wits end trying to either work from home, or find a new job all the while being a teacher too.
We have a select group of Chaplains that will come alongside these families virtually,and provide emotional and spiritual support so these stressed out moms and dads can be their best selves for their kids. It will save families.
How about:
We have people struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem...
We have Virtual Journey to Freedom classes that have a proven history of helping those that need just a helping hand up.
These are just a couple of examples of how the YMCA, the "Y" for the last umpteen years has morphed and changed in this new climate to fill a niche, more importantly to fill a need!
Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor saves lives.
I for one am right there with him.
Will you help us help others?
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
One of the things that people will know almost immediately when they meet Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor our CEO is:
1. He has a really long name.
2. His LinkedIn photo looks like Thomas the Train.
3. His mission in life is to save lives.
In fact if you were to ask him what he does he would say, "I save lives."
If a person's interest gets peaked by his response and says, "Really, how?"
Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor would say:
I teach kids safety around water.
I help with spiritual wellbeing.
I help with healthy aging.
I inspire kids through camp.
All this I get to do as the CEO of the YMCA of Columbia-Willamette.
That is what Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor would say.
And, it is true.
For the longest time people have known that the YMCA or the "Y" as we have been called for the last umpteen years, has been in the business of saving lives.
For the past umpteen years we have done this through programs that resided in buildings and we got very good at it.
Now things have changed.
Now there are lives that still need to be saved, but people are distancing right now, buildings are basically empty. so the question becomes, "How do we save lives now?"
We have been asking this question a lot.
We still have people that need our help, we have:
Shut-ins (those that cannot leave their house.)
Kids that need help with math, science, English, math
Kids that need a P.E. class
Moms and dads at their wits end trying to either work from home or find a new job all the while being a teacher too.
We have people that need a little connection
We have people struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem...
We still have a need for safety around water.
The list goes on and on and on...
Do you know what is really cool about the YMCA, the "Y" for the last umpteen years?
We fill niches, we are niche fillers.
We identify a societal need and fill it.
Lets take:
Shut-ins (those that cannot leave their house.)
We are in the midst of developing the "Y"-Cares team. This team will help shut-ins. The "Y"-Cares team will:
Do yard work
Pick up groceries
Help get seniors connected with Telehealth and virtual senior classes.
the "Y"-Cares team will do this and more as it develops, the important thing is that shut-ins will know that the "Y" cares. It will save their lives.
How about:
Moms and dads at their wits end trying to either work from home, or find a new job all the while being a teacher too.
We have a select group of Chaplains that will come alongside these families virtually,and provide emotional and spiritual support so these stressed out moms and dads can be their best selves for their kids. It will save families.
How about:
We have people struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem...
We have Virtual Journey to Freedom classes that have a proven history of helping those that need just a helping hand up.
These are just a couple of examples of how the YMCA, the "Y" for the last umpteen years has morphed and changed in this new climate to fill a niche, more importantly to fill a need!
Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor saves lives.
I for one am right there with him.
Will you help us help others?
Blessings,
Roger
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
It's Giving Tuesday! What is that?
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Today is "Giving Tuesday". I am not really sure what "Giving Tuesday" is, but that isn't surprising, these days I am not really sure about anything.
Evidently, "Giving Tuesday" is a Facebook driven event. This means that it lives in the Twitterfields, or Googlelands, or the internets universe.
Remember I am the guy that had kids because he could not figure our the new VHS Tape machine for his T.V. and knew that the next generation would be able to figure this stuff out.
Yes, by the time I had thought about having kids to figure out the VHS tapey thing-a-ma-bob, got married (I am the guy that thinks having a wife to have the kids is the way to go, otherwise I would get stuck with diapers.) had the kids and they grew big enough to figure out the VHS tapey thing, we had moved on to DVR's. As a matter of fact we had almost moved on from the Huge old tube T.V.'s to the giant flat screen T.V.s without the need for DVR's.
Anyway, I had kids because I am not a technology guy. Oh by the way, the whole having a wife to have the kids and not leave me with dirty diapers didn't work either. I had to do those too; in fact, I got so good at changing diapers that I used to pretend I was a rodeo star and did calf roping. I could grapple a toddler, throw him to the ground, change his diapers and have him back up and running through the house in under 8-seconds! Pretty proud of that, just say-in.
Back to "Giving Tuesday".
I am going to have to ask Norm (Remember not his real name but a story always goes better with a name attached). Norm is an expert in the Twiiterlands, Googlefields, and internetswastelands. He is also a wiz at Emoji's. Norm is a savant!
According to Norm our "Giving Tuesday" is going to be a facebook live event that goes from 10am to 11am PST (Pacific Standard time) I did that not because I didn't think you knew what PST stood for, but because if you haven't notice I like open and closed parentheticals, just being open and transparent.
Here is the link https://www.ymcacw.org/giving-tuesday-now
"Giving Tuesday" is a global day of Unity, I like Unity. It is also a day and a way in which you can participate in all the things our "Y" does to positively impact our community. I am inviting you to join us.
Please be my guest in this "Global day of Unity", have some fun, hear a story or two, fall asleep to a boring old bald, fat chaplain, and partner with us as we do our very best to "Teach a community to love its neighbor.
See you soon.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
Today is "Giving Tuesday". I am not really sure what "Giving Tuesday" is, but that isn't surprising, these days I am not really sure about anything.
Evidently, "Giving Tuesday" is a Facebook driven event. This means that it lives in the Twitterfields, or Googlelands, or the internets universe.
Remember I am the guy that had kids because he could not figure our the new VHS Tape machine for his T.V. and knew that the next generation would be able to figure this stuff out.
Yes, by the time I had thought about having kids to figure out the VHS tapey thing-a-ma-bob, got married (I am the guy that thinks having a wife to have the kids is the way to go, otherwise I would get stuck with diapers.) had the kids and they grew big enough to figure out the VHS tapey thing, we had moved on to DVR's. As a matter of fact we had almost moved on from the Huge old tube T.V.'s to the giant flat screen T.V.s without the need for DVR's.
Anyway, I had kids because I am not a technology guy. Oh by the way, the whole having a wife to have the kids and not leave me with dirty diapers didn't work either. I had to do those too; in fact, I got so good at changing diapers that I used to pretend I was a rodeo star and did calf roping. I could grapple a toddler, throw him to the ground, change his diapers and have him back up and running through the house in under 8-seconds! Pretty proud of that, just say-in.
Back to "Giving Tuesday".
I am going to have to ask Norm (Remember not his real name but a story always goes better with a name attached). Norm is an expert in the Twiiterlands, Googlefields, and internetswastelands. He is also a wiz at Emoji's. Norm is a savant!
According to Norm our "Giving Tuesday" is going to be a facebook live event that goes from 10am to 11am PST (Pacific Standard time) I did that not because I didn't think you knew what PST stood for, but because if you haven't notice I like open and closed parentheticals, just being open and transparent.
Here is the link https://www.ymcacw.org/giving-tuesday-now
"Giving Tuesday" is a global day of Unity, I like Unity. It is also a day and a way in which you can participate in all the things our "Y" does to positively impact our community. I am inviting you to join us.
Please be my guest in this "Global day of Unity", have some fun, hear a story or two, fall asleep to a boring old bald, fat chaplain, and partner with us as we do our very best to "Teach a community to love its neighbor.
See you soon.
Blessings,
Roger
Monday, May 4, 2020
Am I asking the right questions?
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Life is different now. Work is different now.
We spend most of our time staying home, wherever home is right now. Whatever home is right now.
We do most of our communication with others either on the computer, our phones, or yelling from a distance (which if you remember is my CEO's preferred method of communication).
At our "Y", the team is diligently trying to figure out how to best serve the community that we are part of.
The process is as follows:
1. Ideation
2. Narrowing to a need
3. Strategic
4. Execute
In these "Ideation" meetings we popcorn things, (and when I say "things" I mean ideas), around. All ideas are considered valid until we get to the "Narrowing" phase.
In the "Narrowing" phase we condense to one, or two, or a few things we can do, depending on what they are, for the community that we are part of. The "Community that we are part of" is vitally important. We may be able to do something for a community we are not part of, and we may, but strengthening the community we are part of is our mission.
Let's stick with our mission.
After the "Narrowing" phase we move into what the best way to accomplish the goal (or program however you want to look at it) is. This is the Strategic phase.
Strategy, strategy, strategy, everyone gets tired of strategy. This is the phase where people get grumpy. Terms like, "Why are we talking about this? Why don't we just do something?" comes up quite often. Do you remember the movie "Thelma and Loise"? Well they just did something and ended up driving their car off a cliff.
I don't like driving cars off cliffs. It isn't good for their alignment, just sayin.
After Strategy comes Execution.
The execution phase is were we actually do something. We do the goal, (or program however you want to look at it). This is where you find out if you did a good job on the first 3-phases.
Did I mention that I teach at a local university?
When I say this, the first thing that comes to mind is, "Well it obviously isn't English!" Duh.
No, I teach a variety of classes, some of which are business classes.
Oh great, now I have to read about how wonderful you are as a teacher, Ok Norm (not his real name...) no you don't have to sit and hear how wonderful I am, although I am pretty darn wonderful if I say so myself!
Can you tell I have been taking the John Handy school of self worth, "Because people just like me darn-it".
One of the questions that I ask the students is, "Are we asking the right questions" when it comes to solving the problem or filling a need, a niche, a Blue Ocean?
Back to the "Y".
In our meetings the question comes up, "What does our community need?" good question, but is it the right one?
The next question that gets asked, "What does our community want?" another great question, but is it the right one?
Then the team really starts to dig in, "Can we even provide this?" (whatever "this" is) Another awesome question, but is it the right question?
Then the homerun question, "Will we get paid to do this?" ding, ding, ding. The crux of the problem!!!!!
Remember we started out wanting to serve our community during a trying time.
We wanted to help.
Now we ended up with a business proposition.
I have said this before and I will say it again,
"These are tough times to be a shrubbier!"
You see the fear. The fear that leads to an agenda.
I never mind agendas. No, Agendas in themselves are good things.
Everyone has an agenda. Jesus Christ had, has and will have (the whole omnipresent, omnipotent thing plays in here) an agenda.
It is the hidden agenda that gets scary. Judas had the hidden agenda (we all know how that worked out).
Now I am not saying that because somebody raised the, "let's get paid" question that they are Judas.
No, what I am saying is, "Jesus is the pure love (serve our community) agenda, and Judas is the fear-based (if we don't get paid we are at risk) agenda.
So, to some up this diatribe.
Regor Nottub once said, "If you do something good for someone and expect something in return you are not doing good, your doing business. Do Good!"
The question is, "Are we doing good or merely doing business?"
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
Life is different now. Work is different now.
We spend most of our time staying home, wherever home is right now. Whatever home is right now.
We do most of our communication with others either on the computer, our phones, or yelling from a distance (which if you remember is my CEO's preferred method of communication).
At our "Y", the team is diligently trying to figure out how to best serve the community that we are part of.
The process is as follows:
1. Ideation
2. Narrowing to a need
3. Strategic
4. Execute
In these "Ideation" meetings we popcorn things, (and when I say "things" I mean ideas), around. All ideas are considered valid until we get to the "Narrowing" phase.
In the "Narrowing" phase we condense to one, or two, or a few things we can do, depending on what they are, for the community that we are part of. The "Community that we are part of" is vitally important. We may be able to do something for a community we are not part of, and we may, but strengthening the community we are part of is our mission.
Let's stick with our mission.
After the "Narrowing" phase we move into what the best way to accomplish the goal (or program however you want to look at it) is. This is the Strategic phase.
Strategy, strategy, strategy, everyone gets tired of strategy. This is the phase where people get grumpy. Terms like, "Why are we talking about this? Why don't we just do something?" comes up quite often. Do you remember the movie "Thelma and Loise"? Well they just did something and ended up driving their car off a cliff.
I don't like driving cars off cliffs. It isn't good for their alignment, just sayin.
After Strategy comes Execution.
The execution phase is were we actually do something. We do the goal, (or program however you want to look at it). This is where you find out if you did a good job on the first 3-phases.
Did I mention that I teach at a local university?
When I say this, the first thing that comes to mind is, "Well it obviously isn't English!" Duh.
No, I teach a variety of classes, some of which are business classes.
Oh great, now I have to read about how wonderful you are as a teacher, Ok Norm (not his real name...) no you don't have to sit and hear how wonderful I am, although I am pretty darn wonderful if I say so myself!
Can you tell I have been taking the John Handy school of self worth, "Because people just like me darn-it".
One of the questions that I ask the students is, "Are we asking the right questions" when it comes to solving the problem or filling a need, a niche, a Blue Ocean?
Back to the "Y".
In our meetings the question comes up, "What does our community need?" good question, but is it the right one?
The next question that gets asked, "What does our community want?" another great question, but is it the right one?
Then the team really starts to dig in, "Can we even provide this?" (whatever "this" is) Another awesome question, but is it the right question?
Then the homerun question, "Will we get paid to do this?" ding, ding, ding. The crux of the problem!!!!!
Remember we started out wanting to serve our community during a trying time.
We wanted to help.
Now we ended up with a business proposition.
I have said this before and I will say it again,
"These are tough times to be a shrubbier!"
You see the fear. The fear that leads to an agenda.
I never mind agendas. No, Agendas in themselves are good things.
Everyone has an agenda. Jesus Christ had, has and will have (the whole omnipresent, omnipotent thing plays in here) an agenda.
It is the hidden agenda that gets scary. Judas had the hidden agenda (we all know how that worked out).
Now I am not saying that because somebody raised the, "let's get paid" question that they are Judas.
No, what I am saying is, "Jesus is the pure love (serve our community) agenda, and Judas is the fear-based (if we don't get paid we are at risk) agenda.
So, to some up this diatribe.
Regor Nottub once said, "If you do something good for someone and expect something in return you are not doing good, your doing business. Do Good!"
The question is, "Are we doing good or merely doing business?"
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
Friday, May 1, 2020
Floating Butterflies
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
What a day, what a day.
The sun is shining. The birds are singing, and butterflies are flying.
I was sitting on my porch this morning (Yes, I am an old guy who sits on the porch). I was listening to the birds sing and watching the butterflies float and flutter by. Other little flying creatures flit around as they fly as if they are in a panic, not butterflies, they flutter and float in a relaxed fashion. It is quite soothing to watch actually, a butterfly flying.
As I watched the butterflies my mind journeyed to a place of transformation, a place of cocoons and silk. I remembered watching a time-lapse of a caterpillar making its cocoon and emerging some time later as a beautiful butterfly.
As I relaxed allowing God to take me on this journey of transformation I was filled with awe and wonderment. I was also not afraid.
A still soft voice said, "I have you in a process of transformation. I also have you in the palm of my hand."
I asked, "Will the world be different when we come out of this transformation?"
The still soft voice replied, "Will it be the world that is different, or will it be you?"
It went on to say, "Will the world be different, or will it be the way you see it?"
Transformation is a funny thing.
We tend to want others to change while we remain the same, "Don't make me change."
Yet, every book on change (including the Bible) talks in terms of personal change, personal transformation.
Transformation, I am along for the ride.
Oh by the way:
Everyone is asking what Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor (Remember not his real name) our CEO looks like. I have placed his LinkedIn picture here so everyone can see him. Of course, it looks like he used a picture of a much younger Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor, typical.
Transformation, I will contemplate this some more.
Blessings,
I pray the day finds you well.
What a day, what a day.
The sun is shining. The birds are singing, and butterflies are flying.
I was sitting on my porch this morning (Yes, I am an old guy who sits on the porch). I was listening to the birds sing and watching the butterflies float and flutter by. Other little flying creatures flit around as they fly as if they are in a panic, not butterflies, they flutter and float in a relaxed fashion. It is quite soothing to watch actually, a butterfly flying.
As I watched the butterflies my mind journeyed to a place of transformation, a place of cocoons and silk. I remembered watching a time-lapse of a caterpillar making its cocoon and emerging some time later as a beautiful butterfly.
As I relaxed allowing God to take me on this journey of transformation I was filled with awe and wonderment. I was also not afraid.
A still soft voice said, "I have you in a process of transformation. I also have you in the palm of my hand."
I asked, "Will the world be different when we come out of this transformation?"
The still soft voice replied, "Will it be the world that is different, or will it be you?"
It went on to say, "Will the world be different, or will it be the way you see it?"
Transformation is a funny thing.
We tend to want others to change while we remain the same, "Don't make me change."
Yet, every book on change (including the Bible) talks in terms of personal change, personal transformation.
Transformation, I am along for the ride.
Oh by the way:
Everyone is asking what Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor (Remember not his real name) our CEO looks like. I have placed his LinkedIn picture here so everyone can see him. Of course, it looks like he used a picture of a much younger Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor, typical.
Transformation, I will contemplate this some more.
Blessings,
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