Directions to

Our Daily Bread
There has been a lot of talk about the new Maps app in Apple's iOS6.  It has many faults.  It is buggy.  It doesn't have the public transit feature like the old one.  During my simple use cases, like getting to the rehab center in Wooster, I found the "Directions to" feature worked great for me.  We will see how it does when I go on vacation!

The Bible is our "Directions to" app!  Some think it details our directions to heaven after life is over.  I propose something else -- it contains directions to heaven on earth.  I can testify that when I follow God's leadership that my life is heaven on earth!  Did I say it was easy?  It is not always easy, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is with me.  Isn't that what heaven is all about?  Always being with God?

Lord, thank you for giving us directions for our lives.  Please help us to follow them!

Psalm Sunday
Let's look at Psalm 64 today.  To be frank, I don't really relate to the military imagery in many of these psalms, but the people of that time understood them.  We can all understand the "karma" kind of feelings -- the wicked will eventually be punished for their wickedness!  As always, please read this out loud!


Psalm 64

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
    from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;
    they say, “Who will see it?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him;
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

One way

Our Daily Bread
I did a bad thing the other day.  I thought the quickest way to the Family Dollar store was traveling around the back side of the hospital.  The problem was I didn't realize that the alley was one way.  I made an executive decision to carefully go the wrong way.  I was lucky and didn't have an accident.  I decided that I would go the correct way the next time!

We only have one chance in this life -- there is no "next time"! I admit that it is not always easy. The choices are not always clear cut.  We have our guide book -- The Bible.  Follow the basics that we learn from it.  Remember it is not the exhaustive guide to God.  There are so many things we will never know or understand!  There is only one way.  Do you know Jesus today?

Lord, thank you for providing a way to you -- your beloved Son Jesus.

Simply Saturday
Value
Once again, I had no idea what to write about this week until I took a deep breath and prayed. I am writing about value.

One of the cutest stories I ever heard was about a friend and some ice.  After a big party, a buddy was emptying bags of ice onto the lawn.  He didn't have room to store the ice in his freezer.  Another friend exclaimed: "You can't throw that out!  That's store-bought ice!"  OMG!  We laughed and laughed about that!  The ice had much more value to him that it did us because people bought it at the store! I had a few experiences recently about value - about valuing people.  Here is what I learned.

First, there is the case about me not valuing some people the way I should.  I learned about two very special people in my life -- my mother and a close friend.  Spending time with my sick mother this week opened my eyes to some things.  After watching her have a medical emergency Sunday afternoon, I told my sister "I never thought  would react this way".  I realized I hadn't really valued my mother the way I should.  I learned Tuesday night that I picked up a "thing" from her and never realized it before.  She gives friends and family nicknames.  I do the same thing!  The other example was a text I received from a close friend or to be more accurate, someone I used to be close to.  I said some things to him this Spring that I shouldn't have said, partly because I didn't value his friendship enough.  I will never make that mistake again if I get another chance to be his friend.

Second, I finally figured out some of my feelings from an unpleasant experience this summer.  The feelings were not being valued!  It is amazing that God brought these two concepts together this week after what I have been praying about the past few months.  I know I have forgiven the folks that did not value me even though I couldn't really put it into words.  The feelings I had reinforced the things God taught me about valuing people.  It sucks not being valued!

I hope all of this makes sense.  It goes hand in hand with what I have heard called gratitude therapy.  Be thankful. Value people and not things.  Have a great weekend!  Go Bucks!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Can't cram for this one...

Our Daily Bread
I like school.  I have studied several different areas of knowledge in my life.  One thing seems consistent through all of them -- there are times you have to do assignments or study for a test at the last minute!  Cramming!  Yikes!

I thought about this when I read the last part of the devotional. It had a great explanation of why we don't know when Jesus is coming;
"This any-moment aspect of Jesus’ return helps keep believers motivated in Christian service and spiritual growth all the time—not just near a certain date "

Wow!  We really can't cram for this ultimate test!  We need to keep pushing forward with our Christian service and spiritual growth.  Praise God!

Lord, thank you for the hope of your return.  Help us keep on keepin' on til we see your face!

Foodie Friday
Tweaking
One of the things I like to do is take store bought stuff and make it taste more like homemade.  I did this again last night with some spaghetti sauce.  I took the list of ingredients I added from a recipe for homemade sauce I found a few weeks ago.  I love Carfagna's original sauce.  When I added more spices, it was even better.  I added:
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon pasta seasoning
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds (I forgot to crush them this time)
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried bay leaf

Wow!  This was very good.

I also have a recipe for quick and tasty beef stroganof I use from time to time (when I don't make it from scratch).  I buy the packets of stroganoff noodles with seasoning, then added two tablespoons of garlic and 1/2 cup of sour cream while the sauce is cooking.  Mmmmmm!

There are also books out there with these ideas.  A friend loved the Cake Doctor book that had creative things to do with a cake mix.

Experiment.  Make something tasty!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Not shy...

Our Daily Bread
I have a joke with my friends about my personality.  I noticed many years ago that I am very good with reading people and talking to people.  Instead of using my powers to meet handsome men and flirt, I say I only use my powers for good now!

Seriously, I promised God that I would do a better job of using my personality to speak more about him.  I have been doing that slowly (more slowly that what I want).  I catch myself going into flirting mode, then try to move the conversation to God, my relationship with God, and hopefully their relationship with God.  I like this a lot though it is not as natural for me yet as flirting!

I will be the first to admit that everyone is not like me.  Some friends praise God about that!  ha!  How about your relationship with God?  Got something to share?  Are you sharing it?

Lord, thank you for loving us.  Please help us share your love and mercy with anyone that will listen!

Technology Thursday
Apple iPhone 5
As promised, here is my review of the Apple iPhone 5.  A nice young man in brown delivered mine about 9:40 AM last Friday.  I was so excited!  I was working at home that day to sign for the package so I didn't have a lot of time to play with it.  I unboxed it and started the setup process while I was on a conference call and a chat session with coworkers.  I had most of it setup with all my apps, music, video and pictures that afternoon.  I am not sure why, but there were lots and lots of new app version downloads.  There were two or three downloads for several apps!

Here is what I think of the phone:

1. I think it is a much better phone.  Smartphones are smart, but they are not always the best phones.  I find the phone call clarity and reliability to be much better than even my 4S.  It seems to work more consistently across all kinds of signals EVO and 4G (though I haven't tried LTE yet.  ATT is supposed to have LTE in my area soon!).  
2. It is fast.  Friends have shown me their Android phones.  I think the iPhone is as fast as any I have seen so far.  Is Apple playing catch up?  I don't care.  The whole package works for me!  Why have the fastest phone when people don't really want to or enjoy using it?
3. 1/2" taller.  The new screen is about 1/2" taller, allowing space for one more row of icons on the screen (and I just got all my icons where I wanted them!).  The new screen fits in my pocket just fine. It is very nice for watching movies now.  The retina displayed introduced on the iPhone 4 is very nice on the 5.
4. Camera.  The new camera features are amazing.  Much faster taking pictures.  Better low light picture quality.  It is a nice camera.
5. Apps.  Siri does seem to work better.  I will play with that more.  They removed the Youtube app from the iOS base install.  You have to download it from iTunes now (and it is only available for iPhone, not iPad).  The new Maps app is fine to me.  I will miss the public transportation feature on the Google version.  I will have to use their web site for that feature.
6. Shared photo streams: my best friend and I tested the shared photo stream feature.  Very cool!  We are always sharing photos from our trips together.  This is very easy to do now!  We have another vacation coming up soon, so we will do more tests!
7. New cable.  I like the new cable.  I don't have to worry about which side is up.  I am not sure how sturdy it is.  I will watch out for that.  At least lint won't get caught in it!
8. Battery life: This appears to be better though I haven't tried it with LTE yet.  LTE networks seem to take up more battery life in a phone.  That is one of the biggest complaints about Android phones so far.  There have been a few that bucked that trend, but not many (see Motorola Razr Maxx).
9. Complaints: Still no removable media (not a big deal to me).  Expensive, especially if not in a contract cycle (though I was able to sell my old phone for a great price).  Hard to find accessories like the cords, adapters and cases.   

This phone is not for everyone.  Check it out.  Compare it to the Samsung Galaxy S3, a very worthy competitor.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Shine

Our Daily Bread
I like science fiction movies a lot.  There is one called The Fifth Element that has a girl that represents the ultimate weapon against evil.  Sounds cool, right?  The ultimate weapon has one weakness -- she needs love to function!

I mention this because of the devotional. It talks about how we should shine the love of God every single day to every single person we can.  Wow!  What a charge to action!  What does this have to do with the movie?   What if we thought of every person as the ultimate weapon against evil that can only function if we offer our Christian love to power each one?  How powerful would our lives be?  Giving the love we receive from the ultimate source of love to others.  Amazing stuff!

Lord, thank you for your unlimited love.  Please help us show it to others!

Wellness Wednesday
Last week we talked about setting goals.  I am going to share my goals this week and how I am adjusting them as the year goes on.

Goal 1: Lose 85 pounds by December 31, 2012.
Goal 2: Eat better (smaller portions, better choices, less calories, better snacks)
Goal 3: Workout 3 - 5 times per week: cardio, walking, Bowflex, crossfit, tennis, recumbent bike, etc.
Goal 4: Relax.  Do not schedule stuff every night of the week.  Leave at least two nights per week open for Duane time.

Goal 1:  I have lost 34 pounds so far.  A better measure of my progress is probably in my clothes sizes.  I dropped from 40-42 paints to 36-38 pants!  I have reduced my girth as well.  I changed my goal from 85 pounds to 55 pounds by year end.  This is reasonable and achievable!

Goal 2: I reduced most of my meals by 25-50%.  I make better dietary choices like reducing most fast food and processed food from my diet most days.  A friend uses the saying "When I eat like crap, I feel like crap" to remind himself about it!  I also eat snacks most of the time now instead of treats.  Snacks have less calories and nutritional value when compared to treats.

Goal 3:  I have averaging about 4 days a week.  There have been some weeks that I only exercise two or three times.  Variety is good!

Goal 4:  I did a great job of scheduling for this Fall when I am usually the busiest.  Now to focus on the relaxing...

So what are your goals?  Do you have goals that you need to adjust?  What is next?  Write them down!

I forgot to do a secret last week!  Secret number 19 is:
Age is not to be feared.

Wow, this is an interesting one.  Some folks think that being young is also associated with happiness!  That is not what the research says.  There are different challenges in old age.  There are also different blessings!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

It is just cancer...

Our Daily Bread
The devotional reminded me of the year I was 26 years old.  I was a scared, sick seminary student that didn't know what to do.  I found out that I had an illness, maybe even cancer.  I had no money.  No car.  Couldn't make ends meet working two jobs.  I had to drop out of school and move out of school housing while dealing with all of this.  The most amazing part was that God warned me about all of this BEFORE it happened.  He told me "Don't worry.  It is just cancer.  You will go through a lot, but I promise you will be fine."  As I grasped that promise and believed and then saw the reality of it, I knew we had an amazing God!  My friends were surprised with my response when they asked me about my condition "Don't worry, it is just cancer.  God said I will be fine".  I celebrated 26 years of being "clean" on April 1 of this year.  Praise God!

I say to you: what promise is God making you?  Is he saying things like: "It is just cancer" or "It is just unemployment" or "It is just temporary financial crisis" or "I know you are lonely.".  Always remember in the end: "God is with you.  You will be fine".

Lord, thank you for your promises.  Forgive our unbelief.  Help us believe.

Teaching Tuesday
The lesson this week was the first chapter in Genesis from the P source point of view.  Very interesting stuff! I have read Genesis several times now.  I have never studied it like this!  I have so much learn!

As the book says, Genesis 1 (and the first few verses in chapter 2) is the creation story from the P source point of view.  I found it interesting to read this passage again from this very specific point of view.  I learned last year that the first chapter and the second chapter were written in two very different styles.  I didn't understand why or how.

This study also helps figure out what you want to believe (since there can be different interpretations of the passages).  I choose to believe that we will never know the origins of God.  I choose to believe that God can create stuff from nothing with just his words.  I choose to believe that God is still involved in the world today and that he did not make us to amuse himself.  We are his creation.  He wants a relationship with us!

Read the Genesis 1:1 - 2:4 again.  Think of a rabbi or very conservative person reading it and how official it sounds.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Jealous, much?

Our Daily Bread
As you may have noticed, I can be a silly bear at times.  I have a joke with some friends about jealousy.  Whenever we tease each other about something, we just look at the other one and say "Jealousy is soooo unpretty!".  ha!

Not only is jealousy unpretty, it is unChristian as well!  The devotional talks about how Paul worked with the Christians at Corinth about the jealousy that was splitting the church.  It was a horrible thing to see and take part in.  Paul made it clear that jealousy has NO place in the church!

Got jealousy?

Lord, thank you for being our Lord and King.  Please help us start down the road to getting rid of jealousy by being truly grateful for what we have!

Movie Monday
I saw Resident Evil: Resurrection last week.  It had some very cool parts.  It was much better than the third iteration, which NOONE liked!  ha!

The premise of the movie is that the big organization that caused all the problems is back for revenge.  They captured the large boat with most of the remaining humans.  They took Alice to the main headquarters for further testing and harvest her pure DNA.  The rest of the movie was her being rescued by a human swat team.  It was very exciting and cool in parts.  It was very lame in parts!  It was in 3D and there were some very cool 3D effects.  OH, and they left it open for another sequel!  Alice must be like 70 now!  ha!

I give this one bear paw.  If you see it, see it in 3D in the theater.  If not, it is a nice zombie movie for Halloween.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Psalm 63

Psalm Sunday
I spent most of the day with my mother at the hospital.  They are still trying to figure out what is wrong with her.  My sister and I had a good time visiting and supporting mom.

I wanted to post the psalm for today -- Psalm 63.  When was the last time we earnestly sought God?  When was the last time we vowed our lifetime praise to God?  Read out loud and ponder those questions.


Psalm 63

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.
9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
    they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword
    and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;
    all who swear by God will glory in him,
    while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Do unto others

Our Daily Bread
One of the things I loved about my early family life is that we invited lonely friends from church or sometimes relative strangers into our home.  It may have been for holiday meals.  It may have been as foster children.  It may have been just to hang out with the family.  We weren't rich, so sometimes this was a sacrifice for us.  I still continue doing those kinds of things today!

The coolest part of this tradition was (and is) doing it for folks that you knew could never reciprocate.  Reciprocation is not an issue with children of God.  We are supposed to do things for folks even when they can't reciprocate.  We are supposed to share the treasure in these jars of clay with those around us in need.  I am always amazed that I seem to be getting more out of this deal!

Lord, thank you for you many blessings.  Please help us to share what we have with those less fortunate.

Simply Saturday
The New Normal
I found this chart in an online training class.  I removed all the other stuff on the slide so we could focus on just the chart today.  The session was about change.  I am very accepting of change in many areas of my life.  I try to focus on change that is growth instead of becoming a tired old Betty Bitter Bus Bear.  ha!  Say that five times really fast!

Seriously, I think this chart shows in easy to understand detail how to move from awareness to acceptance to adoption.  I was aware of the steps in the awareness and acceptance stages because they are usually taught as "the grief process".  The process I was taught stopped with awareness and acceptance.  The goal is to continue to move from the former behavior or thought patterns to the adoption of "the new normal".

Do you know what I mean by "the new normal"?  Whenever I try a new behavior or to establish a new habit, it feels odd at first.  Ever had that happen?  For example, I had dinner with some friends last night.  I immediately asked for a to go box for leftovers when I received my meal.  I put half my food in the to go box and ate the rest.  This behavior is my new normal.  This is how I now act at restaurants that serve large portions.  I used to eat an appetizer, the full meal and dessert!  I don't want to eat that much any more as part of my healthy lifestyle.

There are many other examples like quitting smoking or exercising or being nicer to folks or being more Godly.  Whatever the behavior or thought pattern, we need to move from awareness to acceptance to adoption.

What do you need to be aware of today?  Pray that God will make you aware of your next "new normal".  Start moving through the process today!  If I can do it, anyone can!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Do not turn right or left...

Our Daily Bread
If you have read my blog posts or been around me for more than thirty seconds, you are keenly aware of the obvious: I am a outspoken and often silly old bear.  This leads to a life that is not ordinary (thus the name of this blog site!).  It is not always fun and games.  I get into trouble, sometimes often, because of the way I am.  I am still confused at times at whether I say things because God lead me to say them or just to make myself feel better.  I am thinking and praying about this...

But I digress!  I was trying to lead into the devotional with the first paragraph.  I get into trouble.  It is comforting to know that God is with us at all times.  Whether it is getting sent to the principal's office in elementary school or having financial difficulty as an adult or screwing up friendships with outrageous behavior, God's presence is with us at all times.

Do you get into trouble at times?  I know many of you that read this blog.  I know the answer is "yes!".  hehehe  Always remember God is with you.

Lord, thank you for always being with us.  Help us to not turn right or left, but walk on the paths you have for our lives.

Foodie Friday
Here is another use for quinoa that is healthy and "out of the box" for me.  I have all the stuff in the fridge and cabinets right now, so I will give it a shot this weekend.  ;-)

Quinoa Salad with Artichokes and Parsley

Cooking Light APRIL 2011

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: about 1/3 cup)
Total:32 Minutes
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped spring or sweet onion
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 (9-ounce) package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
1 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
5 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation
1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and thyme; sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add artichokes; sauté 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Add broth and quinoa; bring to a simmer. Cover and cook 18 minutes or until liquid is completely absorbed.

2. Remove pan from heat. Stir in parsley, rind, juice, and salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Approachable

Our Daily Bread
Have you ever had people in your life that you were apprehensive about talking to or even approaching for one reason or another?  My sixth grade teacher was a very tall man that sort of beefy and had a booming voice.  He scared the crap out of me!  He was very kind and supportive, but he still scared the crap out of me!  I behaved in his class (if you can believe that!).

Mr. Wolfe is like God to me in some ways.  God scares the crap out of me, too, but I know he is approachable.  God is kind and loving and supportive.  He is also the Almighty God!  Have you ever read the stuff in Revelation?  Big freakin' deal here!  I love this verses in Ephesians 3:10-12:
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 
11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 

Amazing!  God is approachable!  Approach him today!

Lord, thank you for allowing us to approach the most high and almighty God!  May we praise your name forever!

Technology Thursday
iOS6
Yes, I am talking about Apple stuff a lot because I like the Apple gadgets like the iPhone, iPad and iPod.  I ordered my iPhone5 last Friday.  It will arrive at my house tomorrow.  Guess what I will be writing about next Thursday?  ha!

I downloaded and installed iOS6 on my iPad last night.  It was pretty seamless (though this is not always the case).  I planned to wait until this weekend, but found at least on app update that wouldn't sync with my iPad until I installed the new OS.  I know I throw out a lot of technical jargon.  An OS is an operating system or the software that makes a device like a computer or smartphone or tablet computer run and do stuff.  Apps are the computer programs that run on top of an OS to do specific things like maps, word processing, games, etc.

Here are my impressions so far:
I like the turn by turn instructions on the new Maps app (it talks to me!), but I miss the public transit option. I hope Google comes out with a separate app.

Haven't noticed the Facebook integration much yet.

New mail interface is better.

The new music interface is better.

Haven't tried Siri on it yet.  That could be cool if I get used to the way to ask questions.  Siri is almost like a teenager to me -- you have to ask very specific questions to get the answers you want!

Apple also figured out I need a clock app on my iPad.  Whew...

It seems very fast, which is good.  I hate it when an OS slows down a fast device!

I will see how the new OS works with the iPhone5.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Trial garden

Our Daily Bread
My walking buddy and her husband like to grow a small garden each summer and a few Fall plantings if possible.  They talked me into trying the Fall planting this year in some of the large planters I have on my deck.  I planted them carefully and placed them in the sunniest place on that side of the house.  I had faith that they would grow!  So far the beans started to grow.  The lettuce seeds have not.

I mentioned this because the tag line for today's devotional:

Trials are the soil in which faith grows.

Wow, I have read a lot about the metaphor of the crucible and songs like Blessings by Laura Story, but never thought about "trials" being "soil".  My first thought was my grandparents using manure to make the soil better!  It adds a whole new perspective to this trial garden thing, doesn't it?!?  ha!

Yes, trials do help us grow our faith.  Faith can move mountains.  It can change minds and hearts.  It can change a silly old bear like me.

Lord, I want to be honest when I say "thank you for the trials", but you know how I hate working in the garden!  Please help us have faith in any circumstance.

Wellness Wednesday
I talked about wellness goals last week.  I recommend setting goals in at least three different wellness areas.  I found this cool article about the seven dimensions of wellness.  They are:
Social Wellness is the ability to relate to and connect with other people in our world. Our ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends and co-workers contributes to our Social Wellness.


Emotional Wellness is the ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring. The ability to acknowledge and share feelings of anger, fear, sadness or stress; hope, love, joy and happiness in a productive manner contributes to our Emotional Wellness.

Spiritual Wellness is the ability to establish peace and harmony in our lives. The ability to develop congruency between values and actions and to realize a common purpose that binds creation together contributes to our Spiritual Wellness.

Environmental Wellness is the ability to recognize our own responsibility for the quality of the air, the water and the land that surrounds us. The ability to make a positive impact on the quality of our environment, be it our homes, our communities or our planet contributes to our Environmental Wellness.

Occupational Wellness is the ability to get personal fulfillment from our jobs or our chosen career fields while still maintaining balance in our lives. Our desire to contribute in our careers to make a positive impact on the organizations we work in and to society as a whole leads to Occupational Wellness.

Intellectual Wellness is the ability to open our minds to new ideas and experiences that can be applied to personal decisions, group interaction and community betterment. The desire to learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning contributes to our Intellectual Wellness.

Physical Wellness is the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life that allows us to get through our daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. The ability to recognize that our behaviors have a significant impact on our wellness and adopting healthful habits (routine check ups, a balanced diet, exercise, etc.) while avoiding destructive habits (tobacco, drugs, alcohol, etc.) will lead to optimal Physical Wellness.


Your assignment for next Wednesday is to pick three of the dimensions and think about what your goal should be.  Follow the directions about setting SMART goals from last week.  I am very aggressive about these things, so I picked more than three (darn overachievers....).

You can read more about the dimensions here.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Are we listening?

Our Daily Bread
Have you ever been to those funky seminars for work that talk about "listening, but not hearing" or "being present in the moment when conversing with someone"?  I hope they were better than the ones I attended over the years!  I guess I wasn't hearing or listening or whatever!  DOH!

I love the story of Samuel.  God called to the young Samuel.  He thought it was his mentor calling him in the middle of the night because he hadn't experienced God's call before that night.  His mentor finally realized what was happening and instructed him to respond "Speak, for your servant hears".

I thought about my own life.  How many times has God tried to speak to me?  How many times have I answered "Speak, for your servant hears".  I can't think of many.  I will start saying that in my prayer life immediately!

How about you?  Is God trying to speak to you?  What is your response?  Are you listening?

Lord, thank you for still speaking to us today.  Please help us to listen and hear.

Teaching Tuesday
I learned something new about the Old Testament this week in my Bible study class.  Woohooo!  We studied about the four generally recognized sources for the canonized Old Testament writings.  One of the miracles of the Bible is that God lead folks to pull together multiple sources and texts and oral traditions into what we have today -- a description of God from several view points.  I won't go into exhaustive detail.  Here are the highlights of the four sources:
J
J got its designation from the Germans who translated the name of God into JHWH (Jehovah).  This source reminds us that we should not say the name of God out loud due to reverence!  This source refers to God in human terms to describe how he interacts with humans.

E
E got its name from the name of God Elohim that it used in its texts.  Unlike the J source, the E source does not use refer to humans actually seeing God.  This source believes that no human can see God and live!

D
The D source contained mainly the Book of Deuteronomy, but is also intertwined with other books of the Old Testament as well.  It is considered to be the "new law" that was read to Israel during the reign of King Josiah around 621 BCE.

P
This is called the priestly source meaning the texts were probably passed down by the priestly order of the Hebrew people.  There were many more references to the laws and how things worked in the Temple.

You can Google these sources to learn more.  Very interesting stuff!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Spoil the child?

Our Daily Bread
I am not a parent, so I don't think the devotional applies to my life.  I had a brief thought that this might apply to speaking out to help correct someone, like a Christian brother who is straying, but that thought went away quickly like I was trying to rationalize something.

For folks that are parents or plan to be parents, disciplining your child (children) is not only your responsibility to them, but also to God.  Pray about discipline.  Practice being a even-handed, loving parent who can discipline their child (children) appropriately.  Best wishes!

Lord, I know I will never be a parent, but I know you want me to pray for those who are (or will be). It is not an easy road!

Movie Monday
I didn't take time to watch a movie this week.  Heavy sigh!  I wanted to see the new Resident Evil movie because I like the consistent story line and special effects.  Oh well.  Maybe this week.  Not much else came out last Friday except for Finding Nemo 3D.  Seriously?  Oh well.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Not a chore

Our Daily Bread
I know you probably get tired of hearing me say this, but this is yet another timely devotional for me!  Have you ever had something that you need or want to do that can sometimes seem like a chore?  It could be visiting a friend or family. It could be going to church.  It could be volunteering at a homeless shelter.  Whatever it is (or could be), how do you really feel about it?  It is a "delight' or a chore?

I struggle with this at times.  I sometimes perceive my Bible study lessons as more of a chore than a delight.  I loved the way that David describes his delight in God's Word and learning more about God.  That is my new goal -- work on my "delight" index!  ha!

This also applies to the rest of our lives as well.  Being delighted is a choice.  "Realy?" you say?  Yes, I do, so listen!  hehehe  Have you ever known someone that had a delighted attitude at most times?  It didn't matter what he or she was doing, whether it was shoveling snow or cleaning every window in the house or cleaning up after a sick loved one, etc, etc.  Delight.  Joy.  Peace. Content.  Gratitude.

Lord, thank you for putting peace that passes all understanding in our minds and hearts.  Please help us add joy and delight to that as well!

Psalm Sunday
We are reading Psalm 62 this week.  I learned more about imagery during my Bible study this week.  Take a look at all the metaphors for God in this psalm.  Remember to read it out loud!


Psalm 62
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down—
    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.”


Metaphors that I noticed:  rock, salvation, fortress, refuge  Did I miss any?

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

The God of all comfort...

Our Daily Bread

Comfort appears to be very important to many folks.  You hear about "comfort waistband" in underwear commercials.  You hear about dental adhesives that hold tight and comfortably.  You hear about the utter comfort of the latest luxury car.  We are talking about a different kind of comfort today -- much more important!

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the God of all comfort says 2 Corinthians 1:3.  Wow!  What a comfort!  Notice verse 4.  Why does God offer us this comfort?  There are many reasons, but the two most important is that He loves us and we are supposed to gain experience in comforting so we can help comfort others!  That turns the act of comfort inside out, doesn't it?  God as our example once again!

Do you need comfort today?  How is God sending that comfort?  How are you offering comfort to others?  

Lord, thank you for being the God of all comfort.  We praise you!

Simply Saturday

No clue

I have no clue what to write about this week.  I don't think I will say much.  I feel like I offer comfort to many folks when needed.  I am not sure I get my fair share back.  Hmmmm.  That didn't sound so selfish when I was thinking of that sentence in my head!  Maybe that is what God is trying to teach me.  There are times when strong, formidable folks like me don't really need comforting, but sort of whine about not getting it.  Does that make sense at all?  I have a brief flash of "give up, don't push yourself so hard" then I snap to reality and the inevitability of being me.  Don't get me wrong.  I like being me.  Do you like being you?  

I guess I am a little introspective this week for two reasons: a college friend passed suddenly and a Facebook friend wrote some insightful prose about himself that I really enjoyed and related to.  Introspection is good as long as it is the means to an end and not the ends to the means (or something like that).  Always being introspective causes us to lose touch with reality and with others.  I learned from some friends that the reality of me is not necessary the reality that everyone else perceives!  I call it "my own personal reality"!  Ha!  

Introspective with solitude.  That should lead to a deeper sense of joy and hope if our hearts are in tune with God.  If not, we end up feeling alone and listless and scattered in our thoughts.  

Lastly, I have been focusing more on the really important things.  Some acquaintances have a tendency to talk about every little thing like it is a big, big deal.  What?  Seriously?  I try not to be rude, but I started saying things like "I have much more important things to think about.  I can't waste energy on that stuff".  Wow...  

The joke of the week was from an old college roommate.  I was teasing him about something and I acknowledged "I am a hateful bitch."  He replied "Oh, you are not hateful..."  ha!  

In conclusion, if you are in one of those introspective with solitude periods, stay focused on the joy and hope that we have at the end!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

We are one in the Spirit

Our Daily Bread
I sang a LOT of songs around bonfires at church camps growing up and in college.  One of the favorites was "We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord".  The haunting melody and repeated words really struck home!

The devotional talks about this unity.  It is a crucial part of the Christian life and body of Christ.  Discord harms more than just the few folks involved.  It can harm the entire body!

I took a class called "The Way to Forgiveness" last year at church.  One of the big questions was "what do you do when the other person does not want to reconcile?".  The best you can do is pray for them and also pray for yourself.  I found there were more hurt feelings than I realized in myself, so interactions, if they do come, do not go as well as what they should.  Pray for them and yourself.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will gently guide their hearts towards forgiveness and reconciliation.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you forgive the hurt and pain, known and unknown.  Imagine yourself acting the way you should act if you meet the person unexpectedly on the street or at a concert or at a social gathering.

Lord, thank you for making us one -- if only we will work hard to make it so!

Foodie Friday
We had a last minute change of plans for my church dinner group.  It will now be at my house Sunday night and I am cooking!  Woohoooo!  I like to entertain, so it will be fun.  I am making homemade lasagna this month.  I haven't tried this before, so it should be interesting.  The recipe below is what I decided to use.  It is possible I might cut some corners and use Carfargna's sauce instead of making my own.  I will see how things go on Sunday.  ;-p

World's Best Lasagna

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:
You have scaled this recipe's ingredients to yield a new amount (24). The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield (12).
1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, andwater. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

No! Never alone....

Our Daily Bread
I was just as silly at times as a youth as I am now.  At least I had an excuse back then!  When we sang the hymn "Never Alone"  we would almost yell the word "No" on the chorus.  We knew in our hearts that we were never alone if we had Christ in our hearts!

It is funny to me how we forget songs and times like that in our adult lives.  We forget the promises that we learned as a youth or young adult.  We forget that Christ is there for us (and we should be there to serve him).  The problem is that I am not old enough to have a "senior moment"!  ha!  God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in those that accept Christ.  What a wonderful promise!  I use analogies like:
-knowing the winning lottery number
-knowing that a difficult surgery will come out OK
-knowing that all of God's promises will come true
-knowing the details of the Apple iPhone5 before they are announced!

Ha!  I know I am a silly bear at times.  The point is that we have assurances.  Do we really rely on them at all times?

Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit.  I know I am NO!, never alone.

Technology Thursday
Big Apple Announcement yesterday!
Unless you had your head in the sand yesterday, you probably heard about the big press conference by Apple to announce their Fall product line.  They announced the iPhone 5 and a product refresh of the iPod line.  Here is a quick summary:

iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 has a larger screen, but it is different then anticipated.  They stretched the screen a little bit taller and made the phone narrower to fit in your hand better.  It looks like a widescreen TV shrunk down to fit your hand!  It has the retina display introduced in the iPhone 4S.  It has a processor that is twice as fast as the 4S.  The back facing camera has the same number of megapixels, but they upgraded the lens and aperture and low light capabilities.  They upgraded the front facing camera to HD for Facetime calls.  They introduced iOS6 that will power it and some previous iPhones.  They introduced the 4G LTE capability to take advantage of the faster data networks.  They also improved the battery life to offset the battery-draining new features.  We will see how all of this works out!  They also reduced the weight and thickness by about 25%.  Pre-orders start September 14 with deliveries starting September 21.  The pricing structure is the same as the previous models.

iPod Touch
Apple introduced many of the same improvements from the iPhone 5 into the Touch.  It is an amazing little device.  Check it out.  They will continue to sell the previous model as well for a while.  Very cool.

iPod Nano
They changed the size the Nano again.  The very small version they introduced two years ago was WAY too small!  They made the screen larger AND they embedded Bluetooth into it!  Woohoooo!  I bought a Bluetooth adapter for my last one so I could use my Bluetooth headphones.

We will see how all of this pans out in the market place.  My friends who are Android fans say that Apple is catching up.  I say they jumped ahead.  ;-)  Again.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Only the real thing...

Our Daily Bread
So many times in life we try to replace the things that we like or the things that are really good with cheap imitations.  This silly old bear loves Hostess Hohos (probably more than I should).  Yes, they are sort of pricey in my opinion.  I have tried the cheaper brands only to be left unsatisfied and disappointed in my choice.  I want the real thing!

We can also make spiritual choices in much the same way.  There are the "Hohos" of our spiritual lives, the good things that God has for us.  The blessings or will of God that has our best interests at heart.  There are some other things that may seem good, but we find out that we are left unsatisfied and disappointed!  As Psalm 16:2 says: I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

What seemingly good things in your life leave you unsatisfied and disappointed?  Let us all decide to not settle for anything less than the good things God has for us!

Lord, thank you for being not only a good thing, but the best thing in our lives!

Wellness Wednesday
Let's talk about wellness goals today.  I am a very goal-oriented person so this makes sense to me!  I firmly believe in the old adage: If you aim for nothing, you will hit it!  Here are a few steps:

1. Which wellness areas challenge you?  Health (blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, etc)?  Managing priorities (Getting things done, choosing the good things to do, spending time with children, work, etc)?  Life goals (bucket list, education, travel, etc).  There are many others.
2. Pick at least one (preferably two or three) and set some goals.  Your goals should follow the SMART principle (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound).  This year I want to get my blood pressure down by 10%.  This year, I want to lose 20 pounds.  This year, I want to spend at least 1/2 hour per day reading the Bible.  These are examples of SMART goals!  What are yours?
3. Identify how you are going to achieve those goals.  For me, I decided to change my eating habits and exercise to lose weight.  I decided to cut back on salt to help my blood pressure.  I decided to cut out TV to make time for other, more important things like reading my Bible and praying.  How will you achieve your goals?
4. Just do it.  Well, it is not always that easy.  Some folks are self-motivated.  Some folks need to be accountable to someone else to help achieve their goals.  Find a fitness buddy.  Talk about your Bible readings with a friend.  Find what works for you.
5. Evaluate.  Don't be too hard on yourself.  Find balance in setting and achieving your goals.  Sometimes the goal becomes more important than the journey we take to achieve it!  Enjoy the journey!

Secret number 18 from The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People
Don't face your problems alone.
Yes, it is often difficult to face problems alone.  Happy people find that sharing their problems can help gain perspective and possible solutions!  I know I thank God for my best friend who has been there for me for about 20 years now!  Find someone to talk to.  You can overcome your problems!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

I will deal with him....

Our Daily Bread
"No!  He's mine!" says the hero in many action movies when the bad guy shows up during the climax of the movie!  hahaHA!  The bad guy is in big trouble now!

Well, I didn't remember John saying something like this about Diotrephes in 3 John 1.  He called him out in his letter!  John gave specific instructions for the other followers to ignore him. John said "He's mine!  I will deal with him the next time I am in town".  Wow!

I think we all know folks that like that in our churches.  They want to be first.  They want to be recognized all the time.  They have to run things and be catered to.  These can be the folks that outsiders complain about!  What are we do to?  Look at Romans 12:12-21. In short, do the good things you know you are to do.  Don't let those folks drag you down.  Don't fall into the human nature trap of treating them like they treated you.  Don't be tempted like Galatians 6:1 warns!

Lord, thank you for helping us see ourselves.  Help us see ourselves serving you and treating others as you would have us treat them.

Teaching Tuesday
The first lessons in my new Bible study class were interesting.  We started with a community lesson where all the folks in the class, regardless of what year they are in, participate.  I then started on the Year 1 lesson about the Old Testament.  It told about the history of how the "canonical" version of the Old Testament was created.  I learned about how the Old Testament was stories passed on mainly by word of mouth in stories and songs.  It was finally written down, collected together into the "official" or canonized books that we have today.  Along the way, the original Hebrew was translated into Greek, which was the official language of the known world at one point in history.  Today, the Bible is translated into more languages than you can imagine!

I might post part of the community lesson, which is coming up with a photo journal of your life.  I am thinking of pictures to put in it.  It will be interesting.

How about you?  Have you thought the Bible and how it came to us?  Have you thought about the people that have helped form who you are today?

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Spiritual GPS

Our Daily Bread
My best friend and I are gadget geeks.  When he got his first GPS system factory installed in a new car, we loved hearing it give directions to remote places.  It was all fun and games until he was driving on the 270 loop around Columbus.  In between exits, the GPS voice said "Turn left now"!  He would driven into the median if he had listened!  It was sort of like the commercial where the guy turns into a boutique store when his GPS said to turn!

Our lives can be like that.  We can think we are following our spiritual GPS, but sometimes act blindly because we aren't really paying attention.  Yes, we need to listen.  We also need to use the discernment skills that God gives us.  "Go!" is a great commandment that God gives to all of us.  That doesn't mean we go wherever or whenever!

Lord, thank you for leading us with your GPS, the Holy Spirit!

Movie Monday
I saw the movie Branded last week.  It was an interesting choice. There weren't many other options as far as I was concerned.  There was a lot of junky movies out there!

Branded was about the proliferation (and world domination) of the marketing brands across the world.  It was set in Moscow, which was interesting.  The main character was a marketing guru that rarely missed when promoting a product.  I thought it was funny that he considered "marketing" one of his powers.  He decided to only use his "powers" for good!  What a hoot!  The movie was a little slow, but had some interesting turns throughout.  It was a bizarre movie.  It gave some insight into how they thought the human worked and how marketers exploited it.  Very interesting!

I give it two bear paws.  You can see it on video.  No need to see it on the big screen.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Truly seeing

Our Daily Bread
If you know me in the least, you know that I have had many issues with my eyes over the past four years.  I thank God for helping me overcome them with few side effects!  Praise God!  My favorite hymn is now "Be thou my vision".  Since I am a very visual person, I am very thankful indeed.

God gave us the Bible to help us see -- see through the sin and lies that has infected our lives and find truth.  With that truth is a life worth living.  A life of peace and love in God.  It is not always easy, like the many eye surgeries I had.  The result of seeing -- seeing what is really important in life makes it worthwhile.

Are you looking at life through God's Word or your own vision?  Let God help you find your way in this life and the next.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart!

Psalm Sunday
Psalm 61 talks about the wonderful comfort and place of safety that the author feels God offers him.  The author also acknowledges that God has heard his vows and has answered!


Psalm 61

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

1 Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.
2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.
4 I long to dwell in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
5 For you, God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 Increase the days of the king’s life,
    his years for many generations.
7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name
    and fulfill my vows day after day.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

From the heart

Our Daily Bread
I have always been a tender-hearted man.  I get it from my grandfather.  I get my toughness from my grandmother who raised six kids and worked herself silly to do it!  Somewhere along the way I let my toughness mask a lot of my tender-heartedness.  I would tear up during a Hallmark movie, but wouldn't express myself even to God.

The devotional spoke to me as encouragement to keep doing the things that God has taught me the past five years or so.  See the Simply Saturday section below for more details.  I like the story of Nehemiah noted in the devotional.  I read it last year, but had forgotten it.  Check it out here in Nehemiah 1.

Does this story inspire you to do anything different in your life?  Read the section below for more.  I hope it inspires you like it inspired me by writing it down!

Lord, thank you for listening.  Help us listen to you and obey with all of our hearts!

Simply Saturday
Simply a breakthrough
There are times in my life, and they can be rare, that some things finally click.  I wish they happened more often!  I call them epiphanies. A recent epiphany concerns the topic for today's devotional!  How cool is that?!?  Below are the six steps to reduce worry and bring things to God.  Reduce worry?  That is crazy talk!  ha!  It has also been my key to turning things over to God more completely.  Let's take a look at the steps.  I wrote down how they work for me.  Figure out how they work for you as you read them!

Six Steps to Letting Go (based on Nehemiah's experience)

1. Talk to God about it. 
2. Praise God for who He is
3. Request forgiveness for sin
4. Remind Him of His promise
5. Ask for mercy from God
6. God will watch over you!

Talk to God about it. 

I loved the description of the child's prayer as "expressing his heart".  One of the big things I learned this summer is to be more childlike in my prayer life.  Notice I said 'childlike" not "childish".  There is a difference.  God knows what is on our hearts, yet he delights in hearing us talk to him about it.  Why?  Because he knows it is best for us to dig deep into our hearts to express the things we can only talk to him about.  That is how we bare all so we can be more completely his.  Talk to him like you have never talked to anyone before.  Let is all come out during your prayers, no matter how silly or exposed you may feel.  It works.

Praise God for who He is
Praising God for who He is reminds us who we are talking to.  Notice in most of the psalms that I post on Sundays that there is a praise component.  Acknowledging who God is also makes us more special since he takes time to know each of us!

Request forgiveness for sin
Always request forgiveness from sins.  I like some lines from the new prayers I am saying at the Episcopal church "for sins, known and unknown, for things done and undone".  Praying to be more sensitive to all kinds of sin and turning from our sinful ways is important to keep the communication lines open with God.

Remind Him of His promise
Yes, God knows his promises to us.  He does not need to be reminded, but it helps us to remind ourselves when we remind him.  Write down the promises of God that you are claiming for your life.  I find discernment is the most difficult part.  I have prayed earnestly for things that really weren't mean to be because I wasn't listening carefully.  Pray for discernment.  Pray for wisdom.  Pray to faith to trust God in his promises.  Think Abraham and Sara.  That is my all-time favorite "God's promise" story!

Ask for mercy from God
A monk friend of mine taught me this prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, please have mercy of me (a sinner)" as a quick way to get in the prayer state of mind.  I also use it to focus during the day when I am walking or exercising or getting frustrated at work.  I take a few minutes and recite this prayer a few times.

God will watch over you!

Lastly, have faith that God delivers on his promises.  We may not know when or how.  A saying I saw on Facebook means a lot to me: "God's promises are better than our dreams".  How true!  God will watch over us.  He will allow things to happen to us to help make us whole.  To help draw us closer to him.

Praise God!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Blue skies

Our Daily Bread
Yes, the old song Blue Skies talks about how the grey skies turned to blue and there will only be blue skies from now on.  I always liked that song until I thought about it in context of today's devotional.  I realized that in those blue skies, we need clouds for things to work right on earth!

I never thought about how the clouds reflected God.  Yes, I have done the "lay on your back in the yard and look at clouds" thing.  I guess I don't do it enough nowadays to really appreciate some of the things that God put on (or above) the earth.  Thinking about the complexity --- and simplicity of clouds is yet another testament to the glory of God!

And yes, we need "clouds" in our lives as well.  Blue skies all the time sounds like a good thing, but it is a variety of experiences in our lives that truly helps us grow and trust God even more!

Lord, thank you for clouds -- the ones above us and the ones that we overcome through our faith in you!

Foodie Friday
I made this for my Bible study class on Tuesday.  It was spicy!  As a healthy touch, I took carrots, celery and broccoli for dipping.  You can also use your favorite pita chips!  Here is a funky idea for you: use this hummus as the filling in deviled eggs topped off with a little paprika.  Your friends will get a surprise when they bite into one!


Spicy Three Pepper Hummus
Ingredients
2 (16 ounce) cans of garbanzo beans
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/8 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
8 cloves garlic, minced
2 slices jarred jalapeno pepper chopped
1 teaspoon liquid from the jar of jalapeno peppers
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon dried oregano

Directions
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the garbanzo beans, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, jalapeno, and juice from the jalapeno jar.  Season with black pepper, cayenne, cumin and oregano.
2. Mix using the whisk attachment on low speed until the ingredients start to blend, then turn the speed to medium, and blend to your desired consistency.  Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to blend.  Make sure your container is sealed well, or your refrigerator will smell like garlic.

I actually used my food processor to mix everything because the stand mixer didn’t work for me!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Can you hear me now?

Our Daily Bread
There was a popular commercial for Verizon Wireless where the geeky looking character walks to all kinds of remote places and asks someone on his cell phone "Can you hear me now?  Good..."    It is always good to have a strong signal!

It is always good to have a strong signal when communicating with God  We don't want any dropped calls when talking or listening to God!  ha!  Yet, we sometimes think that God can't see us or hear us.  Even worse, we don't listen when he tries to speak to us.  It is like those comedy shows where the character makes a static noise into his cell phone and says "you are breaking up!  We will have to talk later!"  hehehe

I like the catch phrase at the end of the devotional:
Listening to Jesus is the first step to following Him.

Lord, thank you for listening to us.  Please help us listen to you!

Technology Thursday
I hate to sound like a broken record sometimes, but I like some of the Apple technologies a LOT.  I love my iPhone, my iPad and my iPods.  I am too frugal to by an iMac MacBook Pro or MacBood Air!  But I digress...  Apple announced a media event for September 12 to announce the iPhone 5.  There are lots of guesses about the new features and what it will look like.  I will write about next week.  I don't want rumors--I want hardware!  ha!

I think I mentioned a few times that I put a home theater in my basement this year.  I have been working on getting wireless networking and TV service down there (since I don't have cable TV).  The wireless networking sort of worked, but the signal was not as stable as the rest of the house.  I bought a "repeater" that I placed in the basement.  The signal is much stronger for all the devices down there (and any others I carry down there, like my iPad!).

As far as TV, I have been experimenting with OTA (over the air) free TV through a video card in an extra desktop PC I had around the house.  I found a remote control that can control Windows Media Center built into Windows 7.  The whole set up works great when it works.  I have some technical issues that I am working through.  I am going to try another option as well to see if it works better.  I will put one solution upstairs and the other one downstairs.  I will post the solutions after I figure them out.

Geeking out is fun!  ;-)

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Let go, my friends!  God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!

In the light

Our Daily Bread
It starts with little things.  Being a little naughty here whether it is online or in person.  Keeping the money when a cashier gives you the wrong change.  A little lie to cover up something that happened innocently.  "Little" sins open the door to more and more sin.  I learned an important lesson in third grade -- do not steal. I thought I was being clever by slipping some chalk in my pocket each time I went to the blackboard.  I gave to my little sisters to mark on the sidewalk or figured out other creative uses for it at home.  When my mother found several pieces in the laundry, she confronted me.  I was forced to return the chalk to my teacher and come clean.

God gives us the chance to "come clean" each and every day.  We also have chances in our community worship.  One of the things I enjoy about my new church is the community prayer for forgiveness.  There is emphasis on getting better, not just asking forgiveness each and every week!  I tell some friends, who always hate hearing it, "whatever is done in the dark will be brought to light".  Will we stand tall when the light shines on our lives or will we be like deer in headlights not knowing what to do?

Lord, thank you for helping us live our lives for you.  You know what is best for us!

Wellness Wednesday
A friend suggested the title of Wellness Wednesday to replace my tired Workout Wednesday topic.  I liked the idea of a wide open category that encompasses a wide range of topics.  I am also going to include the 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People entry on Wednesdays as well as part of "wellness".  I want to dedicate Tuesday to covering my new Bible study class.

One of my favorite wellness web sites is Huffpost Healthy Living (part of the AOL web site family).  It has a lot of great articles on healthy topics such as exercise, eating, health news, and interesting blog posts.  Check it out today.  Here are a couple of articles that jumped out at me:
10 Simple Rules Of Healthy Living 
How to Read Nutrition Labels for Better Health
Bounce Back Better: 5 Tips For Resilience

Secret number 17 from the 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People
Don't believe in yourself too much.

I posted this as a quick follow up to number 16 yesterday (believe in yourself).  Going the other way on the spectrum is also bad and can affect the satisfaction and happiness in life.  Never think that you can't learn from someone else or that you should never be criticized or that other people should always realize how much you think of yourself!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

A planner

Our Daily Bread
OK, I have to admit once again that I am a planner.  Like the fireman in the devotional, I like to have things setup so I can be ready to go when needed.  Examples?  I setup a pill case for my morning meds and one for my evening meds so I don't have to open multiple bottles each morning.  I lay out my workout and work clothes so I can start the day without thinking about what I am going to wear.  There are other things as well I do to help make me more effective and efficient!

I have thought about how to apply these skills to my spiritual life, but I haven't done it as much as I should.  I will work on that?  Will you join me?  Let's all start with the helmet of salvation by giving our minds and hears to God.  Let's put on the rest of the spiritual armor so we listen for our heavenly marching orders and be ready to serve our Heavenly Leader!

Lord, thank you for equipping us for our lives on earth!

Teaching Tuesday
Secret number 16 in the 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People is:
Believe in yourself.

This sounds like such a simple concept.  Believe in your own abilities and you could increase your life satisfaction by 30%!  Wow!

I believe in believing in myself and also helping other people learning to believe in themselves.  I told the story recently about the movie Hook.  There is a scene where Peter Pan can't fly because he can't find his happy thought.  Each of the lost boys and Tinkerbell whisper to him "I believe in you, Peter!".  Isn't that amazing!?! Having someone believe in you?  Isn't it amazing to have that belief in yourself?!?

Let's all try it today!  Practice makes perfect!

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Our Daily Bread
It is often difficult to overcome "equity theory" in the workplace, in our families or in the world in general.  I think we are seeing a lot of this in the current "we are the 99%" movement in our cities.  Folks see and feel that things are equitable.

What does this have to do with the devotional?  When things don't seem equitable, it is hard to do you best.  It is only human to feel cheated or feel it is unfair.  A common example is one sibling takes care of the elderly mother or father only to have the other siblings get more praise and consideration from the parent.  Is that fair?  The devotional says that we should do everything we do for God, not for consideration from folks in this world.  Knowing that you are doing things for God keeps us focused on the things that are really important.

I realized this summer that I can have an attitude of "After all I did for him or her or the church or whatever else you want to put in here", I still got the shaft!  It is not fair!  I am finally learning to have pure intentions when I do something.  Pure intentions...

Lord, please help us understand the real reason we are doing something -- to humbly serve you!

Movie Monday
I saw the movie Lawless last week.  It is based on a true story of three brothers during the Prohibition period in American history.  It was very violent to say the least.  The performances were ordinary except for Guy Pearce.  I hardly recognized him as the special sheriff.  He was ruthless and odd all at the same time!  Shia Labeouf  had an odd part, but he grew into it as the movie went along.

I give this one two bear paws.  Lots of adult situations and violence.  You can wait to rent it or view it on NetFlix.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Announcement...

Our Daily Bread
In one of the software packages I support at work, there is a feature to send an announcement chat message to a group of folks.  It can be handy when you want to tell folks "Server A is down.  I am working on it" or "There is extra pizza in the break room!".  There is an option to let people respond or you can just send a one-way announcement.

Our prayer life and conversations with God can be like those one-way announcements.  We talk and beg and plead and whine without checking the "Let God respond" check box!  The devotional gave great insights into how to open the two-way communication -- listening during prayer times and reading God's Word.  We often don't make time for either.

I thought the devotional was timely for me.  Please pray for me as I start back into my Bible study regimen this week.  I start a new program.  I am a little nervous about it.  I will let you know how it goes.

How are you listening to God?

Lord, thank you for listening to us.  Please help us listen to you!

Psalm Sunday
We are looking at Psalm 60 today.  It is full of Old Testament imagery.  Read it out loud (like you should do all psalms!) and see what it means to you!  FYI, the word miktam means "poem".


Psalm 60
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;
    you have been angry—now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;
    mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;
    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
    to be unfurled against the bow.
5 Save us and help us with your right hand,
    that those you love may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
    “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin,
    on Edom I toss my sandal;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
    and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.
12 With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13

Say what?

Our Daily Bread
When I was younger, I had red hair.  When I grew my first goatee in college, some of the older folks around college and church swore I looked like a young Mitch Miller!  They joked that having me lead hymns at church was "Sing along with Duane"!  ha!  My hair is darker and grey now, but I still like it when people sing along with me!

Having been in many singing groups, large and small, over the years, I really identified with the devotional this morning.  I learned two things from the devotional.  First, just one person singing out of tune can affect the whole group.  Do you know at least one person in your church that is sort of "singing out of tune"?  It is awkward at times because everyone knows it, but no one will say anything!  Second, there are times that someone needs to lovingly mention that someone is "singing out of tune".  Because of my personality, I am usually the person to speak up (like I do when folks are singing the wrong notes in a real choir).  My biggest problem is saying things "lovingly".  I often let hurt feelings or frustration guide what and how I say things.  Not good!  I finally realized that saying things the wrong way can make it seem like I am the one "singing out of tune"!

Let's all pray for each other to be in one a-chord (accord)!

Simply Saturday
Proof texting
If you have read at least one of my blog postings, you have already figured out that I am a silly old bear sometimes.  I was sitting in church last Sunday and had the oddest thought (well, maybe not for me you might say) during the Lord's Supper scripture reading.  It was a funny-weird-bizarre example of proof texting:

Jesus said: Eat me.

I don't know where you came from, but in my culture the phrase "eat me" is derogatory!  You usually say it to someone when you are angry or when you are responding to something they teased you about!   I don't think this is what Jesus meant.  Can you see how taking things out of context or just pieces of scripture can lead to confusion (and many other bizarre behaviors)?  I found a great article explaining proof texting.  Here is an excerpt:


A proof-text is a verse or short passage from the Bible used by someone as part of his proof for a doctrinal belief he wishes to substantiate to others. However, since verses and passages may rely extensively on the context in which they appear for correct interpretation, pulling these out of their context and having them stand alone in a “proof” can, at times, be very misleading. In addition, a set of such proof-texts can completely ignore other passages which, if added to the mix, might well lead to an entirely different conclusion. Someone who relies strongly only on a list of proof-texts in order to make a doctrinal argument may have a very weak case for his argument. Noting that a religious teacher relies heavily just on proof-texting is viewed in theological circles as a very negative evaluation. (Dewey).

Wow!  Does this explain how so many folks use the Bible to explain and justify their own beliefs?  The saddest part is that most will never question their beliefs because it would rock the foundation of their faith.  If I read my Bible correctly, that is exactly what Jesus did to the Sadducees and Pharisees when he conducted his ministry!  He questioned the status quo.  He questioned the basis of their beliefs in God and then showed them the way to truth.  

In my opinion, the main reason that most people will never reevaluate their beliefs is that we don't have the church leaders in place to lead them to the way of truth.  Notice that I didn't say "ministers' or "preachers" or "priests" or "rectors", I said church leaders.  Showing others the way of truth is everyone's responsibility.  Double wow! ;-0   

I want to leave you with one more quote from the article:

"...each verse should be examined in context, in order to allow the Bible to put forth its own doctrines. The Bible should be allowed to speak for itself, but this will only happen when it is examined in context, as a whole, as God’s complete revelation. "

May we all read the Bible like it is only the "Cliff Notes" to knowing God.  God should be experienced and not just read about.  Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God!

Reference
Dewey: Field Guide to the Wild World of Religion, P. Dewey, 2005, Wasteland Press, Shelbyville, KY.

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13