Connections

In reality it is always ... 'Lessons Lived/Lessons Learned'

 Wise people are determined to be lifelong learners!

It is wisdom to recognize that we are never completely prepared to deal with every life experience.

In reality it is always ... 'Lessons Lived/Lessons Learned'!

I once heard of a man whose brother died in a small plane crash while on a medical mission trip. Months after the event, this man found himself still weeping over his loss. In desperation he cried out to God trying to understand what was happening. He knew his brother was a devoted follower of Christ and that his family had found great peace in their hearts, but he, himself remained broken.

As he prayed he came to a profound understanding!

The piercing word of the Lord to him was, 'You are not weeping for your brother, you are weeping for yourself because you find yourself in a place where I am all that you have but you do not know me well enough to be all that you need!'.

WOW!!

It happens!!

We all find ourselves suddenly having to deal with life realities that are bigger than our personal, relational or spiritual strength!

We have to dig deeper, develop more & discover something new for ourselves!

When we do we always find exactly what we need!

If we ask we receive, if we seek we find and if we knock doors open!

In reality it is always ... 'Lessons Lived/Lessons Learned'!

I am there ... maybe you are as well!

When You Are In Overtime The Cheering Intensifies!

 
  Recently my friend Andreas & I went to an incredible ice hockey game!

The Malmo Redhawks were playing in their brand new arena & I can tell you that the Swedes are serious about their ice hockey!

When we arrived it was near the end of the third period and the game was tied. In a matter of minutes the opposing team scored and then just before the end of regulation time the Redhawks scored ... and the place exploded with cheers!

When You Are In Overtime The Cheering Intensifies!

If you know your hockey rules, then you know that the teams prepared for an overtime period!

In similar fashion, the overtime period ended with the score tied and the cheering went to a whole new level!

When You Are In Overtime The Cheering Intensifies!

Then the teams prepared for a 'penalty shootout' and three players from each team were selected to take shots on goal!

I honestly do not remember the exact sequence of events because the atmosphere was just charged with excitement!

What I do know is that our last player to shoot could win the game for us if he could get the puck into the net!

We watched him skate around to gather some speed, then he charged the net and scored his goal!!

Now ... I can tell you for sure that a Boeing 747 could have landed right outside the arena and we would not have heard a thing!

When You Are In Overtime The Cheering Intensifies!

I learned alot that night about ice hockey, as well as my perception of the quiet Swedes and ... about cheering!

When You Are In Overtime The Cheering Intensifies!

I know that is true in ice hockey and I know it should be true in the kingdom of God!

The thing is that knowing you are in overtime in a hockey game is easy! The clock ticks it down for you!

It's not that straight forward in the kingdom of God but it is important that we know what time it is in a spiritual sense because ...

When You Are In Overtime The Cheering Intensifies!

My heart tells me that we are in spiritual overtime and that now is the time for us  to be engaged and excited!

We should be on our feet, hands cupped at our mouths and going crazy!

The clock is ticking ....

Walking With The Unseen One Into The Unknown!

Today is a ´red letter day' for our family!

Caleb & Luke, our identical twin grandsons are celebrating their 1st birthday (loud whistles and thunderous applause please!).

These little guys were born way too early, have been challenged way too much ... and yet, they are celebrating their first year of life.

I remember when we got the famous homemade video, ´10 Reasons Why People Over 50 Stay Up Until 3:00 in the morning'. Andrew & Kristi had a great time poking fun at Ruthanne & I and then they got to, 'The number one reason why people over 50 stay up until 3:00 in the morning'!

Andrew said to Kristi, 'Drum roll please' and then they said in unison, 'Because you will be grandparents by Christmas!!'.

I was stunned and then I started crying!

My next challenge was not to tell Ruthanne so she could see the video for herself!

I remember arriving in the US to be with Kristi for her 30th birthday, knowing that the doctors were going to tell them that day if the baby was a boy or a girl.

We were with my sister Kathy & her husband Dan when we called.

I will never forget Kristi's excitement when she said to me in italian, 'Papa, ci sono due!' (There are 2)!

We all went nuts!!

I remember being in Sweden in September and Ruthanne called to tell me that Kristi had gone to the hospital.

I called Kristi and she sounded so brave!

Walking With The Unseen One Into The Unknown!

Then, in very rapid succession, she went thru several procedures culminating in the boys being born in week 29 (just in time to be born on daddy's birthday!)

Walking With The Unseen One Into The Unknown!

None of us knew what would happen next!

Both boys were very small, needed assistance breathing and were so fragile!

Luke suffered a brain bleed and was seriously at risk.

Walking With The Unseen One Into The Unknown!

Weeks later Caleb was doing much better but Luke was still struggling!

Then in late October he needed emergency surgery to remove 46 cm of his upper intestines!

Walking With The Unseen One Into The Unknown!

In late November Caleb was released from Neo-natal Intensive Care (NICU) and on February 2, Luke finally went home ... after 130 days in NICU!

Walking With The Unseen One Into The Unknown!

What a journey .... one that would be absolutely impossible to endure if we had to do it on our own ... but we didn't!

It would be impossible to calculate the number of people who prayed, the nations of the world that they represented and the hours they invested!

In addition to that, people were so generous and sacrificial in their financial support and the loving care of family/friends was just incredible.

In reality, we did see The 'Unseen One' in all of this and God Himself made His presence very known in a powerful, yet intensely personal way.

He was our strength, the source of our peace and the stable ground under our feet!

Without Him it would have been impossible!

Absolutely impossible!!

Now, like you, our journey continues!

Walking With The Unseen One Into The Unknown - that's our plan!

Absolutely!!

How about you?

Think about it ... seriously!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB & LUKE!!!

*This song is for perfect for the journey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa4VJUsEL_o

Avid Fan/Faithful Follower!!

Ahhh September!!

The month for the Kansas State Fair, Friday night high school football, the Fighting Irish and ... the Steelers!!

All things I really enjoy ... no, all things that I truly love ... even if I my Europeans friends do not understand!

I have great memories of walking around the fairgrounds taking in all the sights ... the rides, the pavilions, the animals ... the butter statute!

Avid Fan/Faithful Follower!!

Friday night football is ... well magic really! Cool evenings, marching bands, enthusiastic players, drinking coffee and taking it all in! Go Campus Colts!!

Avid Fan/Faithful Follower!!

Notre Dame Fighting Irish ... the gold & navy blue, playing in, 'The House That Rockne Built', to a capacity crowd, with 'Touchdown Jesus' looming over them!

Avid Fan/Faithful Follower!!

The Pittsburgh Steelers ... hard-hitting, always winning, powerful presence!! Love those Steelers!

Avid Fan/Faithful Follower!!

As much as I say that I love these things ... the reality is I am only an avid fan, not a faithful follower!

I have probably only been to the Kansas State Fair ten times in my life, perhaps seen 20 high school football games in the last 20 years &  I have never seen Touchdown Jesus or watched my Steelers live!

Avid Fan/Faithful Follower!!

In some ways, it can be like that in our relationship with God! 

We talk alot about Him, have alot of great memories and are very enthusiastic about Him but ....

Do we spend time with Him, encounter Him in a life-changing way daily and remain passionate for Him long term?

Avid Fan/Faithful Follower!!

It seems to me that when it comes to fairs, football and faith, we have far too many fans and far too few followers!

That may not matter to 'Touchdown Jesus' but in the Kingdom of God it means everything.

No avid fans in His Kingdom ... only faithful followers!

Seriously ... only faithful followers!!

I Am Not Sure My Makeover Is Working For Me!

I have to accept that after living in Europe for more than 23 years that I have experienced my own 'makeover' and really ...

I am not sure my makeover is working for me!

This reality reflects itself in many ways!

I now watch Formula One, consider myself a faithful Manchester United supporter and much prefer water to Coca Cola!

All of this from a bonafide Kansas boy!!

I will give you a moment to process these shocking realities!!

Seriously ... I am not sure my makeover is working for me!

Perhaps the greatest indicator is the drastic shift in my idea of being 'on time'.

In the past, being punctual was very important to me. I would often be 'in the area' 15 minutes before my appointment, was very tense if I arrived 10 minutes late and was downright 'ticked' if I was 15 minutes late.

Now instead ... I almost always take my 'Fashionable 5' or even my 'Tolerable 20'! Something has definitely shifted and ...

I am not sure my makeover is working for me!

I wish these were the only shifts that I was experiencing, but in truth these are just the ones that are abit funny to talk about!

Deep inside all of our hearts we are drawing closer to Him or we are drifting away!

There is a 'makeover' going on and we are either being 'tranformed' into His image or we are being 'conformed' into the image of the world!

In both big & small ways this is our reality.

We get to decide which happens ... so here's the question!!

Is your makeover working for you?

Better still ... is it working for Him?

I am looking way beyond the surface things and am determined to measure the much more serious issues in my life!

Tragically, I have to painfully admit ...

I am not sure my makeover is working for me!

Actually ... I am pretty sure it's not working for any of us like it could and should be!

I think it's time for an, 'Extreme Makeover' ... and believe me, we do not want this to be on TV!

It Takes A Worried Mind To Sing A Worried Song!

Ruthanne and I celebrated our 35th anniversary (yes we were mere babes when we married) on Monday. We marked the moment by being together in Venice, Italy, Ruthanne's favorite place!

We were sitting at a table in a coffee bar enjoying the sunshine and the ambiance when I became aware of a song that was being played over the loud speakers. I do not know the singer's name but in a very raspy voice he sang these words over and over again,

'It takes a worried mind to sing a worried song'!

It seems that this tragic reality revisits us generation after generation!

Think with me ...

David ... in many of his psalms it is quite obvious that he with a worried mind was singing a worried song.

Jesus  ... in Matthew 6 had to remind His early followers not to worry because apparently they, with worried minds were singing a worried song!

Us ... how often do we, with worried minds, sing a worried song!

The answer to this dilemma is as simple as this, 'Change your mind and thus change your song'.

David learned that lesson, as did the early followers and so it can be for us!

'It takes a worried mind to sing a worried song'!

True enough so ... why don't we renew our minds and change our song!

It's time to switch channels ... like TODAY!

They Say Opportunity Knocks, But The Truth Is ... Sometimes It Whispers!

 Seizing opportunity when it comes our way and then maximizing it's potential is what moves us from good to great!

Our constant challenge is to be ready to respond and to be resolute in our resolve to make the most of every opportunity.

However, in far too many cases, we struggle to get these things done!

They say opportunity knocks, but the truth is ... sometimes it whispers!

It would be great if every opportunity that we were supposed to pursue would announce itself! Then we could move quickly to embrace the moment and redeem the time!

In reality, it does not work that way!

Much of the time, opportunity whispers!

An idea or an open door comes our way with little fanfare! Some of the greatest breakthroughs and the most amazing opportunities have come as the result of a gentle nudge that could easily have been ignored!

So, we will need to train ourselves to not only answer the door when opportunity knocks but to tune our hearts to its promptings and whispers. Only then can we be certain that we will fully embrace all that is intended to be ours!

They say opportunity knocks, but the truth is ... sometimes it whispers!

Knock, knock ... shhhh!

Are we ready for that?

Funny What Gets Stuck In Your Head!

Last week, for no apparent reason & with no obvious prompting , I found myself singing a commercial jingle from my distant past, 'My bologna has a first name ....' (can you sing along?). I have no idea why I launched out in this catchy little tune nor why I remembered all the words!

Funny What Gets Stuck In Your Head!

If I am honest, there is alot of stuff stuck in my head! The words to classic oldies from the 50's & 60's, gospel songs and hymns and a surprising number of these commercial jingles.

I do not know exactly why these things are there but I do know that I love music, spent a good amount of time in church and watched alot of televison in my fomative years.

It seems that my outbursts in song and the things stuck in my head reveal some very important things in my life!

• The things I love
• The places I go
• The activities that have priority

 Funny What Gets Stuck In Your Head!

Funny, yes ... but also revealing ... and worth paying attention to ... seriously!

* Here's the link to the 1973 jingle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmPRHJd3uHI

Remember now!!!

The Amazing Gifts Of God!

This week I have been made profoundly aware of the amazing gifts of God!

I received a short video from Kristi of Caleb and Luke laughing ... really laughing! (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=106452494279&ref=mf)

To think of all they have been thru in the first ten months of their lives and yet ... laughing! The promise of God is that He will fill our hearts with joy and cause our spirits to rejoice! In good times or bad ...

Laughter ... one of the amazing gifts of God!

I was speaking in Sweden on Sunday and Zoltan, who is a gifted pianist, was playing for our service.  I so enjoyed listening to him play and Zoltan himself acknowledges that his gift is from God. Later he shared with me a video of him playing a beautiful piece, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT9ICpuee2c  and again I marveled ...

Music ... one of the amazing gifts of God!

I was invited to the home of a young couple who are passionately serving the Lord! They shared with me their dreams for their future, fully aware of all the challenges and the costs, but dreaming still! I listened with smile on my face, deeply thankful that for them and for us ...

Dreams ... one of the amazing gifts of God!

Laughter, music, dreams ... only the beginning of an endless list of the amazing gifts of God!

Remember His words to us in Matthew 7:11, 'If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him'.

The truth is that He has more prepared for us than we know, is anxious to do more thru us than we can imagine and He wants to gift us in ways that are truly amazing!

Now you tell me who is more blessed than us!!

 

Do We Get It ... REALLY!!

Now and again you come across something that really captures you and begs for your attention!

This piece came to me from Dan Swearingen, who is a friend with whom we share abit of history.

I was amazed when I first read this and I continue to be amazed by the stunning reality that it forces me to confront!

It makes you ask yourself ...

Do we get it ... REALLY!

Listen to this!!

'Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. 
 

4 minutes later ... 
  
    the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 

  6 minutes ... 
  
    A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
  

 10 minutes ...

 A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

 45 minutes ...

 The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

 1 hour...

 He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

Do we get it ... REALLY!!

 No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.

He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth ... $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised ... well many!!!

In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
 
 One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this ...

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Great question huh!

Do We Get It  ... Really!!

I am not sure ... I really am not sure!!