The Times They Have A'Changed

When I was 9 or 10 years old, missionaries that our church supported would visit and instead of our usual Sunday School class, we would have a presentation on their work. There would be rows of chairs set up in the basement of the church with what I would call a fairly respectable crowd of people. They would turn down the lights and the missionaries would show slides and talk about their work in whatever country they were currently serving. In my memory, the missionaries were always women and they looked like missionaries. They would tell us that if God wanted us to go to the far ends of the earth and be missionares, we would hear God calling us. I remember looking at them and watching their slides and my only thought was:

"Please God, please, please, please, I beg you, please do not call me to be a missionary."

And He didn't. At least I never heard it if He did.

What He did give me was a love for hospitals and healthcare in general. When I step into a hospital, I have to stop and take a good look around. I have to deeply breathe in as much of the atmosphere as possible. Not many people feel this way about hospitals and I understand that. Kind of.

So it's not a surprise that for some time now, ok years, I have had a strong desire to have more hands-on skills to work directly with sick people. I was talking with Monica about thoughts that would not go away about going on medical mission trips and to actually be able to contribute and she told me a medical assistant certification would be enough to do those kinds of things. So, with a minimum of research, I learned there's a school about 5 miles from my house with a medical assistant program and I can be finished in a little over a year. I think a year goes by in the blink of an eye. I can do that. So with more than a little bit of trepidation, I am now a student again. I started last Friday and we'll see how it all goes.

So I definitely feel like the joke is on me. Am I going to be a missionary? I suppose I will be. Will I go to the far ends of the earth and serve people living in conditions I can't even imagine? I hope so. Will I serve people right here in my little corner of the world who are suffering and have lost all hope? I hope so. Will I serve people without health insurance or access to care who need the help of free clinics? I hope so. Can I see suffering and keep it from effecting me? I hope not.

Never say never.


This Thankful Heart
1. Dena and Monica who listen to me, help me grow and are always my cheerleaders and encouragers.
2. Dinner last night with Greg and Dena.
3. Church services.
4. Garrett getting close to coming back home.
5. Silly movies after a less than perfect day.
6. Mom, dad and Carson here for my birthday.
7. Carson and Carissa here for Easter.
8. Easter brunch with the Aunan family.
9. Tea parties.

Supplication
1. Continued healing for Tate.
2. Mark, Cody, Elizabeth, Cody, Carson and Carissa.
3. Being a student.

Dena's Devotional

This was one of Dena's devotionals this week that I liked a lot.

The other night, Greg and I went out to dinner with friends. The bill came and Greg noticed that they hadn't charged us for my raspberry ice tea; so he pointed it out to our waiter, who asked, "Would you like me to change that, sir?" Of course, Greg said, yes. It's not the first time I've seen Greg act in an honest way. I believe that his parents raised him to be that way and as a follower of Jesus, he chooses to be honest. For several years, Greg went to Promise Keepers. It's is a "Christ-centered organization dedicated to introducing men to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and then helping them to grow as Christians" If you go to their website, it reads: "Promise Keepers: Men of Integrity"

I know we are supposed to have integrity, but what exactly is it? Noah Webster says, "The entire, unimpaired state of any thing, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property,and agencies for others" Another dictionary gives this definition:"adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty"

So, if a person has integrity, they are moral, pure, honest, ethical. What does the Bible say about integrity?

**"Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or volume. Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry goods or liquids must be accurate" ~Leviticus 19:35-36

**"The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; He sets the standard. A king despises wrongdoing, for His rule depends on His justice.The king is pleased with righteous lips;He loves those who speak honestly"~Proverbs 16:11-13

**"Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty" ~Proverbs 11:3

**"It is better to be poor and honest than rich and crooked" ~Proverbs 28:6

**"I know, my God, that You examine our hearts and rejoice when You find integrity there" ~1 Chronicles 29:17

**"Then the Lord asked satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you persuaded me to harm him without cause."

**"In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever" ~Psalm 41:12

** "And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching"~Titus 2:7

Who do you know that you would describe as being a person of integrity? What is it about them that sets them apart? How do you feel when someone you know professes to be a follower of Christ, and they act in ways that are dishonest, unfair, immoral or unethical? At some time or another, each of us will let someone else down. We will disappoint others. I think that's why we need to be aware of our actions and choose to be people of integrity. Every time we have to make a decision, we get to choose to be honoring to God and to others.

"Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do"

“If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well" ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you" ~H. Jackson Brown

"I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day" ~Abraham Lincoln

“Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught" ~J.C. Watts

“You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them" ~Malcolm S. Forbes

"Integrity is doing the right thing--even if nobody is watching"

To read more from Dena, go here Dena's Devotionals

What To Think

Last Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that gay and lesbian couples could legally marry. First thoughts are outrage, a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, anger at how just a couple men who happen to be judges could make a decision that I have to live with, etc. Then I went to church Saturday night at Hope and Pastor Mike addressed this issue in a way that gave me a better understanding of how I am to think about this. This comes during Easter week and Jesus absolutely positively had the power to take over the church and government. He could have stopped his crucifixion. That was not His kingdom, his goal or His plan. Here is what I gleaned from Pastor Mike's words:

1. Jesus wants His followers to love everybody. Gay marriage is not the great cause of our day nor is it the mission of the church, in fact, it is a distraction to the mission of the church. The mission of the church is waaaaay bigger. Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord you God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prohets are based on these two commandments." Pastor Mike told us that if we can't speak respectfully and with love, to quit talking. When we have hate over issues, we lose our moral center and mission. Jesus is much bigger than a law.

2. We are all sinners who need God's grace. Romans 3:23: For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Romans 5:16: And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free give leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. I need as much grace as people who disagree with me.

3. God's intent was for marriage to be between a man and woman. Marriage was established in Genesis and is repeated throughout the Bible. Mark 10, Matthew 19, Ephesians 5. This is a timeless law and God's laws don't change regardless of what politicians, judges or polls say. His Word stays the same. God wants His word and teaching on marriage to go out,

Pastor Mike told us the church doesn't follow the culture. He asked if we dance with God, who leads? We are to be the followers not the leaders. Remember our mission, what kingdom we are working for. Our mission is about salvation and Jesus, hearing the Good News and sharing that Good News. God's love poured out for me and for you is the central story of our faith.

Speak in love,


To hear the entire sermon go to: Lutheran Church of Hope - The King Is Coming

Welcome Back Old Friend

I have rediscovered a lifelong friend. The Library! I am finding out that paying $20 or more for a book and then even if I resell it at the Half Price Bookstore, I make about 25 cents. And as I continue with my cleaning frenzy (actually frenzy might be a little too strong of a word, but no matter), I am discovering books I completely forgot I had. Since, unlike Carissa I have rarely, if ever, read a book twice, it doesn't seem fiscally responsible to buy books in these trying economic times. So I stopped by the Waukee Library and checked out a couple books. They even have movies. I got "An Affair to Remember" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." You can keep them for a week. For free. And I could even renew them because I didn't get both watched yet. With no fees.

Another very cool thing about living in the Des Moines area is I do not have just one library. Yesterday I stopped in the West Des Moines library and they had 5 times as many books by a particular author than the Waukee library. Dena loves the Urbandale library so I am going to get a card there. The Des Moines library is just a few years old and it's on the west side of downtown so oh so easy to get to. There is a little park nearby and I think there are plans for a sculpture garden so how pleasant could that be to go down there on a summer day with a good book and read amidst the sculptures.

Another thing I noticed when I was in the West Des Moines Library is that they have a little cafe and a coffee shop! Be still my wildly beating heart. I will have to check, but I think the Urbandale library might have the same thing. I have suggested to the Waukee library people in charge the very same thing, but so far there is no coffee shop. I have to think it would be a gold mine. I would help them out.

So, as that wise old sage, Arthur the Ardvark once said:

"Having fun isn't hard, when you have a library card."

So welcome back old friend, I will be visiting often.

Keep reading.


Thankful for today:
1. Warmer weather!!
2. Dinner last night with Denise.
3. Libraries.

I Am Praying For:
1. Tate.
2. My D-group.
3. Mark, Cody, Elizabeth, Carson and Carissa.

Can't Insult Me

A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

There's a commercial I see frequently that always makes me smile. It's for MasterCard with Peyton Manning, the quarterback for the Indianopolis Colts. In the first scene, Peyton is waiting for the elevator in a hotel in New England with the bellhop. The bellhop tells Peyton "You're going down Manning" to which Peyton replies "Yep, 4th floor, going to get a massage, I'm excited." The next scene Peyton is in Cleveland and room service brings him a fruit basket telling him "Don't choke on it" and Peyton says "Good call, I'll cut it up and make a fruit salad." The final scene Peyton comes onto his balcony at his hotel in San Diego and says good morning to the maid cleaning on the next balcony to which she tells him "take a hike." Peyton tells her he's "going to do that, the weather here is sweet."

A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

I found this little prayer many, many years ago. I liked it then, I like it now.

Prayer of an Optimist by Jerry Spinelli
I saw a worm with an apple around it;
The tiniest speck of a bug flew into my eye, but I got it out before it drowned;
I flipped a coin and called heads - it came up tails -
Flipped it again and called tails - it came up heads -
Sure glad I'm not a coin, having to be wrong all the time;
I reached into a rosebush for a ball and got nicked by a thorn near the loveliest rose I've ever seen -
I wonder how long that proud bush had been trying to get my attention;
My tire went flat, so was my spare - I walked - I may never ride again;
For the fifteen thousand one hundred and first day in a row, I breathed approximately
twenty-six thousand times - That's - get this Westinghouse - nearly four hundred million without a failure!
And another Partly Sunny day tomorrow?
You're going to spoil me yet.

The next time I'm driving down I-235 and the car next to me honks and waves at me with their middle finger in the air, I'm going to smile widely and wave with my whole hand. Some people are so friendly.


Thanksgiving
1. Church and dinner with Dena and Greg last week.
2. The people in my small group.
3. The ladies in my Women of the Word group.
4. E-mails and text messages from Cody, Elizabeth, Carson and Carissa.
5. Phone calls from Rachel and Betty.
6. Hearing from a couple girls who graduated from Waukee a while back.

I Am Praying For
1. Tate.
2. Barack Obama and the leaders of our country.
3. The United States of America.
4. My D-group.
5. People who have lost jobs.

It's A New Year, So It Must Be Time For Resolutions

I'm hearing a lot these days about New Year's Resolutions. Certainly not a new phenomenon, but the topic you hear every single year at this time. The most popular seem to be to lose weight, eat better, stop smoking, start saving more money, etc. I don't really do resolutions because it feels like a setup for failure. I'm not going to go from eating Hostess cupcakes today to grapefruit tomorrow. Just ain't gonna happen sister. However, I do like to evaluate my life and see if I'm on the right track so to speak. So here I go.

Eating. My body is a "temple of God" so pouring donuts and Diet Pepsi into it probably isn't honoring my body as a temple. So I should eat better. There is always room for improvement there. And truthfully I have been eating better. Maybe not the five vegetables and fruits per day as recommended, but quite frankly if I get any in a day, I let myself feel pretty good about me.

Exercise. I actually don't mind exercising. Today at negative whatever below zero kept me from my hangout at Anytime Fitness, but I can be fairly regular. Of course, the challenge is not getting there, but working at a beneficial pace rather than just taking a stroll on the treadmill while watching the Today Show. Because it's so much more fun to just stroll. I try to be aware of how blessed I am that I am able to walk, to move. To dance if I feel like it although not if anyone is watching. Not everyone has that blessing.

Save money. I love to shop. But if a need comes up, I want to be in a position to write a check or give money in that instance. My work hours are Monday through Thursday noon to 5 so that give me a 3-1/2 day weekend every single week. I earn approximately 4 hours per pay period of PTO (paid time off) that I can use for vacation, if I get sick, etc. However, with a 3-1/2 weekend every week, I rarely dip into that PTO time and thus I have accrued quite a bit of time. With our Employee Giving Campaign we could give away PTO hours or if a fellow employee has a need for lots of hours due to illness or a family crisis. So with the number of hours I had built up, I have had the opportunity to give many of those hours away. That's how I visualize the money in my life. Have enough stored up to be able to give it away when I see a need. So, I'm becoming a relentless bargain shopper in all areas of my life and the truth is, the more you give away, the more you have.

To Know God. This is actually #1. When I am right with God and spending time in His Word and prayer, then the other stuff falls into place. I will never completely know God until I am no longer on earth, so it's a goal I won't achieve, but I think the journey is pretty fabulous. Because there are many circumstances where I am surrounded by people who do not know God, being with people who are committed to Him is a blessing I can't begin to describe. So keep strengthening relationships and being focused on knowing Him better is something I truly desire. "Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually."1 Chronicles 16:11

As part of growing closer to God, I want to keep reaching out to people with notes, phone calls, anything that God puts on my heart. It's easy for me to send the note, the hard part is to do this and expect absolutely nothing in return. Too often I expect a thank you or some sort of return. That's what I'm hearing from God right now. Do it in His name and delight in His joy. "... it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me" Galatians 2:20.

Happy 2009.

Oops

Yesterday as I was driving home after my date with the treadmill at Anytime Fitness, I noticed a high school student probably on his way to school in a really, really, really nice little silver Corvette. Now my brother Jeff could tell you all kinds of things about this Corvette, the make, model, the year, how many miles were on it, if it was preowned, etc. all in the time it took me to see it on the road. All I know is that it was a Corvette.

At least I'm pretty sure.

Now I don't know where this particular young man lands on the coolness scale at WHS, but driving around in a car like this can probably move you up the ladder pretty quickly. What I noticed about him though was that his face was pale white, even accounting for the fact it is December in Iowa, and he was either scared or very, very nervous. I was able to get such a good look at him because the road was semi-slick and we were moving pretty slowly, this was at 7:45 in the morning so lots of traffic, and, the Corvette was in a snowbank in the ditch. The young man kept looking behind him like he was looking for a break in the traffic to get back on the road. I will be the first to admit I don't know much at all about cars, but I don't think a Corvette is an off-road type of vehicle that you want to use to go in and out of ditches.

Three things passed through my mind as I passed this stranded teenager.

1. He's going to be late for school and I wonder if Mark is his dean.
2. I hope that his dad or stepdad or whoever paid for this shiny toy is grateful the young man is unhurt; thankful that he slipped into the ditch and not into oncoming traffic.
3. Teenage Driver + Corvette + Slick Roads = Not Such A Good Idea.

Slip slidin' away.



Thanksgiving
1. Praying and meeting with Dena.
2. Paige, Wellspring, peppermint lattes and Poore Bros BBQ potato chips.
3. Family together next weekend.
4. Games.
5. Chocolate covered graham crackers.

I'm Praying For
1. Tate.
2. Mark, Cody, Elizabeth, Carson and Carissa.
3. Jeff, Nancy, Noah and Brianna.
4. People who have lost jobs.
5. Safe travel.
6. Keeping the meaning in Christmas.
7. My D-Group.