tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-244726192024-03-08T17:20:12.788-08:00Aldersgate MenFishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1164824442434027482006-11-29T10:20:00.000-08:002006-11-29T10:21:11.300-08:00Thoughts and Prayers for a Friend...I know a lot of you have enjoyed Michael's blog in the past. I read it today and could not believe what I saw. He tried to save a young man who was shot in a gang-related act of violence. My thoughts and prayers go out to him, and to the family and friends of the young man. Details are still unfolding, but you can <a href="http://megaloi.blogspot.com/">READ ABOUT IT HERE</a>.FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1164119012806458192006-11-21T06:23:00.000-08:002006-11-21T06:25:28.586-08:00Child of GodSomeone asked me to post Randy's eulogy for his three-year-old son, Drew Michael Taylor, so here it is. Thank you so much for your prayers for Randy and his family. They are very much appreciated. You can also find out more about the <a href="http://www.drewmichaeltaylor.org/dmt/">Drew Michael Taylor Foundation</a> by visiting the website.<br /><br /><br />Drew Michael Taylor, son of Randy and Marcie Taylor, was killed June 13, 2006 when a logging truck crashed into the van in which he rode with his family while on vacation in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. He was 3 ½ years old. His father gave this eulogy at his funeral.<br /><br /><br />During the past 19 days, I have been asked two types of questions. One has to do with health: how is Marcie, how is your back, are you guys okay? The second has to do with help: is there anything I can do for you, is there anything you need? Last Sunday, as I was standing in her dining room, Susan Berrier asked me these questions: “Randy, what have you learned from this tragedy and what lessons can you share with me?” For the past week I’ve been thinking about her questions. I’m a teacher and a coach. This is my most valuable lesson. This is what I’ve learned.<br /><br />I am reminded that I have a wonderful extended family. The Taylors. The McClures. The Ditzlers. The Walters. The Bentivoglios. The Podas. They’re good, solid people. Thank you for your love and support. I think it was 30 years ago this summer that my Aunt Betty took me to Florida on vacation with her family. You treated me like I was your own son. You really took care of me and thirty years later you still are.<br /><br />I’ve only seen my cousin, Jon Taylor, who now lives with his wonderful family in San Diego three times in 15 years, but when he learned of this tragedy he dropped everything to help me out. Thank you, Jon.<br /><br />We call John Bentivoglio Marcie’s cousin, but he is actually Marcie’s mom’s cousin. John is an attorney in Washington D.C. He has been so great to us that I almost regret all of those lawyer jokes. John, you moved us along in the right direction so that we weren’t trampled by the ambulance chasers. I don’t know how I can ever repay you. Especially since you charge $500 an hour.<br /><br />This tragedy reminded me of all of reasons why Marcie and I decided to raise our family in a small town. The car washes, the pool parties, the birthday party for my daughter, Lauren, the local EMT’s, the donations, the food, the flowers, the pictures, the videos, the cards, the visits, the phone calls, the lawn mowing, the dog sitting, the building of ramps, the e-mails, the prayers, and The Randy and Marcie Taylor Fund at Orrstown Bank. This community’s outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming. Thank you.<br /><br />This tragedy reminded me why we decided to join Messiah United Methodist Church. God’s people worship here. To Pastor Troy Howell, all I can say is thank you, I love you, and I will be forever grateful for the things that you have done for my family.<br /><br />Another very important lesson that I learned is that there are great people out there who are willing to give so much of themselves to help total strangers. Like the hero who was the first person to arrive at the accident and said, “I’m an EMT from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’m here to help.” The fire fighter who gave me a blue towel to clean myself up and to wipe away the tears. The flight nurse who stayed with me hours after his shift was over to hug me and tell me how sorry he was for my loss. Marcie’s nurse, who gave us her cell phone the night of the accident and said, “keep it. I’ll come back for it in a day or two.” The members of Colonial Heights United Church of Christ in Norfolk, who learned about us via e-mail from a church secretary in Indiana.<br /><br />Members of their congregation visited with us every day. Total strangers. They prayed with us, cried with us, and gave us communion. They were absolutely amazing.<br /><br />I’ll never forget the Chaplains at Norfolk hospital: Gina, Michael, and Bennie.<br /><br />Every Sunday Pastor Troy prays for the Chaplains. Now I understand why. Put yourself in their position: It’s a beautiful Tuesday morning around 11:00 a.m. A call comes in that a three-year-old boy is arriving shortly in critical condition. His father is with him. You see the helicopter land. The father gets out first. He has on one flip-flop, a pair of swimming trunks, a Scotland Basketball shirt, and a pair of sunglasses resting on his head. The father kisses his son on the cheek and says, “I love you” as the 3 year old is brought into the ER. You then take the father to a conference room.<br /><br />What do you say?<br /><br />To be honest, I don’t remember what Gina said, but I thank God for her. She was so comforting. I remember we did a lot of praying. We spoke many times in the hospital while we waited for Marcie to recover from her injuries. Gina told me that when I ran into the ER with Drew that she could tell that I was a doer. So she kept asking me what I needed to do. Who did I need to call? After about an hour with Gina, another Chaplin named Michael, spent about two hours with me. He took me to the trauma floor to wait for Drew to come out of surgery. He gave me a Gideon’s Bible. Once again, I don’t remember what we talked about. I just kept walking from one end of the small conference room to the other. Michael was sitting on a chair not saying much. But there really wasn’t anything to say. His presence was very reassuring.<br /><br />After surgery, Drew was taken to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. It was there that I met Bennie, a tall black man in his 50’s with a soothing voice. Bennie is the chaplain for the Children’s Hospital and it was Bennie who asked me if Drew had been baptized. For ten hours, I hugged, cried, and prayed with those three Chaplains. They received the full flood of my emotions. Me. Randy Taylor. A total stranger. They do, what Jesus did. They sacrifice themselves for others.<br /><br />I learned that even though I’ve spent 19 days in Hell. I need to be thankful.<br /><br />I have an incredible wife, a beautiful seven-year-old girl. And I had Drew. After Drew passed away at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Marcie and I were taken back to the ER. I showered, changed my clothes, and began to receive treatment for the broken bones in my back. After an hour or so, Lauren arrived with Shirley, Carrie, and Tim. Lauren asked me where Drew was and if he was okay. I told her that I would take her to where Drew was. We were then taken back to the Children’s Hospital so that Shirley and Carrie could see Drew. Lauren went with Tim and some counselors to a children’s play room. I spoke to a couple of counselors about how to tell Lauren about Drew. They told me that she would take her cue from me. She’ll react based upon how I act. So I went to a bathroom and threw water on my face and prayed to God for strength. I told God that this was the most important moment of my life and please don’t let me screw it up. I walked to the playroom and asked everyone to leave me alone with Lauren. I felt a calm come over me as I began to talk to her. I told Lauren that Drew had been hurt really bad in the accident and that the doctors and nurses had done all that they could to save him, but Drew was now in Heaven. His body was still here on earth, but his soul was with the angels. Lauren began to cry. We hugged. Then she asked me, “ Can we get another one?” We talked for a while. Then she drew this picture. [Randy holds up a picture of a dog getting blamed for the cat peeing, explaining that the family had just gotten its first dog and it frequently had “accidents.”<br /><br />The day after the accident I watched Lauren closely to see how she was doing. At some point in the morning, she came up to me and said that she wanted to call Mrs. Behrenshausen, her first grade teacher. When I asked her why she wanted to call Mrs. Behrenshausen, she said that she wanted to tell her about Drew. She wanted to tell her so that Mrs. Behrenshausen wouldn’t find out on the first day of school and cry in front of her new students.<br /><br />Anyone who knows Marcie knows that a great word to describe her would be selfless. She is always thinking about others before herself, whether it’s organizing a variety show to benefit the Tim and Sue Cook Scholarship at Chambersburg or organizing a concert to help Justin Wolford’s family as he has a stem cell transplant. I’d like to tell you a story about the most selfless act I have ever witnessed. As I was waiting for Drew to come out of surgery I had been given word that Marcie was being airlifted to Norfolk Hospital. When I was told that Drew was not going to make it, I asked the doctors if they would be able to keep Drew alive until Marcie arrived. I told them that her kids were her life, and that she wouldn’t be able to cope if she could not see Drew before he died. The doctors assured me that they could keep Drew alive until Marcie arrived. As they wheeled Marcie in on a stretcher I could see that she was in a lot of pain. She could see in my face that things had not gone well for Drew. The doctor told her the same thing that he had told me: Drew had suffered catastrophic brain damage and there was nothing they could do for him. At that point, all of the oxygen seemed to leave Marcie’s body. It was as if she had been punched in the stomach.<br /><br />She closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. Exhaled.<br /><br />Then Marcie asked the doctors if they could donate any of Drew’s organs. They told her that because of the severity of Drew’s injuries that it was doubtful that they could use his organs. Marcie asked a second time. She said that Drew had to be able to help somebody else. That it would be the only way that she could make sense of this tragedy. It was the most courageous thing I have ever seen in my life. Even though Marcie was walking in the valley of the shadow of death, she was thinking about helping others. The doctors told us that they could keep Drew alive with machines if we wanted. Marcie and I both said no, let him go peacefully, naturally, in our arms. So they unhooked Drew from the machines. They gave Drew to me, and I placed Drew on Marcie’s bed between the two of us. Pastor Troy called, they put him on speaker and we prayed. After he finished, everyone left the room but the three of us. We cried, prayed, and sang songs for Drew. After about twenty minutes, Drew went to be with his savior.<br /><br />One of my favorite memories of Drew was his Baptism in May 2004. Pastor Troy does a great job with Baptisms, but Drew’s was really special. During the service, Troy began to walk around the sanctuary with Drew in his arms. He walked down the aisle and walked out the door to introduce Drew to the world. Troy was wearing a microphone so we could hear what he was saying. While outside, Troy and Drew encountered a man walking his dog. Troy introduced Drew to the man and said, “This is Drew Michael Taylor, a child of God. Drew was just baptized and I’m introducing him to the world.” The man, who Troy had never seen before the service or since, said “that’s great.” It was such a special ceremony. You could feel God at work that morning. I knew that God had a special plan for Drew.<br /><br />Most of you probably never spoke to Drew. He was a shy kid, a mama’s boy. In fact, for about a year we were not able leave Drew in the nursery during worship service because he just cried and cried, wanting his mommy. Eventually, Drew grew to love coming to church. He loved playing with puzzles, and especially loved singing songs with Mrs. Holtry. In May of this year, our family was greeters at church. At first, Drew really didn’t like the job much. But as the month wore on, Drew loved shaking everyone’s hand and saying “Good Morning.”<br /><br />Drew was really looking forward to going to the Outer Banks. For about a week leading up to our vacation Drew would ask, “Are we going to the beach today?” “I want to go to the beach.” “Go to the beach now.” At 5:30 AM on the morning of Sunday June 11, I was in my bathroom shaving, when Drew opened the door and asked, “Are we going to the beach today?” I said, “Yes Drew.” Drew replied, “Hoorah!”<br /><br />We were on the road by 6AM.<br /><br />It was just the two of us. Marcie, Lauren, Shirley, and our new puppy Trey were leaving after church. Drew slept from just south of Washington D.C. to North Carolina. When he woke up he asked, “Are we at the beach yet?” We arrived at our condo, and I wanted to unpack, but Drew wanted to go to the beach, so we took a trolley to the ocean. We played football in the ocean for an hour or two. I would throw the ball into the ocean. The waves would bring it back. Drew would get it and throw it back to me…over and over again.<br /><br />Monday June 12 was overcast and dreary, so most of our activities were close to the condo. Drew and Lauren took a bubble bath together. Drew stood up in the tub, covered with bubbles, and said, “I look like a snow man.” We got in the hot tub as a family and had our picture taken for the last time. On Tuesday June 13 Drew woke us up at 5:30. He slept between Marcie and me and he was anxious to play. We had the condo to ourselves, just the three of us. Drew helped Marcie make an omelet and incredibly, Drew cracked four eggs using just one hand. He was his mother’s little Renaissance man. Drew and I then played dominoes as Marcie took Trey outside for a walk. She saw a beautiful sunrise and took a picture. Drew and I went outside. Our condo was beside a golf course, and there were people playing so Drew decided he wanted to play too. I went to the car to get my golf clubs and for the next hour we hit golf balls around the yard, played with Trey, and enjoyed each other’s company. I left to play basketball, and when I returned a couple of hours later everyone was anxious to get to the beach. The five of us waited for a trolley to take us to the ocean. The first trolley came by, but it was full. The driver said another one would be coming by in a few minutes. So we waited. Another trolley came by, but it was full as well. As we waited and waited for another trolley, a jogger and a cyclist passed by. Both said, “Good Morning.” We, of course, responded by saying, “Good Morning.” Drew said, “Hey, just like in church.”<br /><br />Those were his last words.<br /><br />When the third trolley never came, we decided to drive to the beach. After the logging truck hit us, I crawled in the backseat of the van with Drew, where I helped the EMT’s and paramedics. Drew was taken from the accident in an ambulance. I followed in a sheriff’s car. We went to a firehouse where we waited for the helicopter to arrive. I was loaded into the helicopter first and then Drew was loaded. We flew to Norfolk Hospital, where Drew was first treated in the emergency room, then the Trauma floor, where his surgery took place. We then went to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. It was there that the surgeons told me that the surgery had not gone well. There were a lot of internal injuries and bleeding. They had removed his spleen and his small intestines. They were breathing for Drew. They told me to wait in the conference room until the pediatric surgeon arrived. I think I waited for about 15 or 20 minutes. The pediatric surgeon entered the room with a bad poker face. I knew what he was going to say. Drew had suffered catastrophic brain damage and there was really no hope of recovery. He asked me if I wanted to see Drew.<br /><br />I entered a crowded room and there was my son. I cried and cried. Someone, I think it was either Gina or Bennie told me to talk to Drew. So for a couple of minutes I said, “I love you.” Over and over again. “I love you, Drew.” “I love you, Drew.” I read the 23rd Psalm and the Lord’s Prayer from the Gideon’s Bible that Michael had given me. I sang Amazing Grace. Then I began to sing Mrs. Holtry’s children’s songs, but I think I was screwing up the lyrics, so I just rested my head on Drew’s. I cried. Finally, I looked up at the medical people in the room and I began to introduce them to my son. I said, “This is Drew Michael Taylor, a child of God.” “This is Drew Michael Taylor, a child of God.”<br /><br />Thousands, if not millions of people have reached out to my family during this tragedy. I understand from my cousin John that we are on prayer chains in India and Russia. Candles have been lit for my family in churches in Europe. Many people have asked if there is anything that they can do for my family. The answer is yes. There are three things that everyone can do for my family. First, please continue to pray for my family. We will never stop mourning for Drew. Not in a week, a month, a year, a decade or in a lifetime. We will have broken hearts until the day that we die. However, like Coach Pitino said, we will remain positive and live life to its fullest because we have to. Second, please pray for the driver of the truck who hit us. At some point, when I was in the van with Drew and all of this chaos was going on around me, I saw a face that didn’t belong. It was a man crying and saying over and over again “I’m so sorry.” “I’m so sorry.” I’m sure that was the driver of the lumber truck. Please pray for him. Third, you can support the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation. Like Marcie said at the Children’s Hospital, the only way that we can make sense of this tragedy is to know that Drew died in order to help others. I have never been more committed to anything in my life. We will honor Drew’s memory. We will create a foundation in his name, to help kids.<br /><br />To answer Susan Berrier’s questions: “What have I learned?” and “What lessons can I share?” I’ve learned a lot. But the greatest lesson I learned is discovering the meaning of life. These thoughts are not my own. I learned them from Troy during a sermon a few months ago. To paraphrase Troy: we live in a high tech, fast-paced, complicated world. But when it comes right down to it, life is about three things, and three things only: The people you love…the people who love you…what you do for God. The people you love…the people who love you…what you do for God.FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1161016990896376822006-10-16T09:41:00.000-07:002006-10-16T09:43:10.923-07:00Upgrade Your Hybrid-Powered Vehicle<em>“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”<br /></em>- Beaver, Narnia<br /><br />Hybrid vehicles are the rage while gas prices dance between $2 and $3 dollars. The ability to switch from gas-powered to electric-powered can save money and even the environment.<br /><br />Our Christian walk is too often a ‘hybrid vehicle’, switching back and forth between ‘powered by Jesus’ and ‘powered by Me’. Our faith walk looks like a drive through the mountains: uphill, switch to ‘JESUS’; downhill, switch back to ‘ME’. Need to pass somebody: ME; idling at a stop-light: JESUS.<br /><br />The imperfection of these human bodies means that we will always be tempted with ME power – Only Jesus perfected driving this human body on JESUS power. We strive to continually reduce the amount of ME power used.<br /><br />The great irony is that we struggle to hold onto our ME power while the journeys we take on JESUS power are more satisfying, not only from an eternity perspective, but often from a here-and-now perspective as well.<br /><br />And many have learned that running on JESUS power is like racing a jet against a scooter. We think we know the limitations of this world – Jesus’ time on earth showed us that we have no clue. We can continue to ride our safe scooter, slow and close to the ground. Or, we can choose His jet with Him as pilot. As the Beaver in Narnia tells us, “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”<br /><br />Choose this day to switch your power to JESUS, and strap in. You will learn to hate those scooter rides.<br /><br /><em>"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”<br /></em>- Luke 16:13Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1159896417595240322006-10-03T09:50:00.000-07:002006-10-03T10:26:57.730-07:00Caves & RainbowsI jumped on my bike today thinking about my friend Rob who hasn't been able to ride much lately due to cancer and getting hit by a truck. My Sunday School verse accompanied me: <blockquote>Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who<br />promised is faithful."</blockquote><br />As I made the turn at my halfway point, it started to downpour. While parts of me thought "How can I get home fastest", the rest of me was amazed that I was not only feeling the chill of the rain, but also the warmth of the sun, with bright rays shining on my side. Rather than dread a soggy ride home, I took it all in.<br /><br />My 3rd-grader will tell you that when you have sun and rain, you have the ingredients for one of our earthly wonders: a rainbow. When I glanced left, sure enough there was a huge rainbow.<br /><br />For the rest of my ride my mind processed everything that was going on: Rob, my verse, the rainbow. <br /><br />While occasionally people think about the cleansing nature of rain, it is most often compared to bad things that happen. Few people want to 'be in the rain' (my U8 soccer team is an exception). The struggles that we encounter - like cancer, trucks, and many other things - are the downpours in our life.<br /><br />As earthly men, we are taught by books like "Mars is for Men" that when men have problems, they head into their cave to solve their problems. This may get men out of the rain, but it is more often running away from the issues.<br /><br />As Christian men, we know there will be struggles. Instead of heading into our caves, spurning our friends and family to solve our world's problems, we need to learn to 'hold unswervingly to the hope'. Is our faith just a hedge bet in case Heaven is real, or are we embracing the abundance He promises, regardless of the floods we might endure?<br /><br />For me and my house, we will follow the example that my friend Rob has recently lived out: stand tall in the rain, with Christ's love and strength supporting us, shining bright through the rain. When we do that we become for others one of God's wonders on earth. <br /><br />When we see someone wet and cold from the rain, yet smiling because of their hope in Christ's promises, they become a rainbow: a reminder of the promise, a reminder that with Christ we can stand in any downpour.<br /><br />Thanks Rob for showing us the rainbow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1158333275250596912006-09-15T08:14:00.000-07:002006-09-15T08:16:36.606-07:00Encroachment: 5 Yard PenaltyThe first time a football fan hears 'encroachment' they think, "they couldn't come up with a better word?". In football, the defense is allowed to cross over the line of scrimmage and go back before the snap as long as they don't touch the offense. They touch: 5-yard penalty for encroachment.<br /><br />In Christian life, we are SUPPOSED TO encroach. Proverbs 27:17, "as iron sharpens iron".. We should embrace encroachment by another brother, just as we should be quick to encroach, especially when we see a brother in need or in peril. When we see a brother doing something that Christ probably wouldn't do, whether to us or to others, we should be encroaching on that activity. At the same time we should be prepared for a brother to 'get up in our grill' at times, even times we don't even realize we are out of line, times when we aren't out of line.<br /><br />That does not mean we are going to enjoy the short-term pain it may cause, but we should be excited in the long-term strength it brings. Like lifting weights, right now, even tomorrow it hurts, but in two days we know there is greater strength.<br /><br />I struggle with this, both as encroacher and encroachee. I need to stay focused on the long-term gain. I often shy away from the short-term pain, for myself, for my brother. If Christ avoided the short-term pain, we'd probably all be terrorists of some kind, forcing our way on others, or stepping on people to get our own way. Thankfully He did not, He took the short-term pain, focused on the long-term gain. His choice should embolden us to make the same choice.<br /><br />So if you are on offense, embrace the encroachment, earned or not. Your brother's 'got your back', and the ball will be moved closer to the goal. If you are on defense and you think you see a violation on the offense, cause the encroachment, because in the end we're on the same team. Help your brother move that ball further down the field.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1157742936792190972006-09-08T12:15:00.000-07:002006-09-08T12:15:36.886-07:00The Power of Prayer...I am reading a book now called Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett, about a hostage takeover of a birthday party in South America. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841155837">According to Amazon</a>: <br /><blockquote>In Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honour of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. Alas, in the opening sequence, just as the accompanist kisses the soprano, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air-conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favourite soap opera--and thus, from the beginning, things go awry.<br />Among the hostages are not only Hosokawa and Roxanne Coss, the American soprano, but an assortment of Russian, Italian and French diplomats. A Swiss Red Cross negotiator named Joachim Messner is roped into service while on holiday. He comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands, and the days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months.<br /></blockquote><br />One of the characters is a priest, and when his parish finds out he is among the hostages, they begin to say the mass in his name. One of the things that he says, as he begins to consider this, is how amazing it is that his name is being lifted up from so many people, and that these people are lifting his name up to the very ear of God. I had never considered your prayers in quite that way until I read this passage. Now that I have, I will never be able to think of it otherwise.FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1155914789436207162006-08-18T08:12:00.000-07:002006-08-18T08:26:30.570-07:00World Trade Center: The MovieOn Tuesday my sister would have turned 46. I celebrated her and her influence on me by going to see World Trade Center. I'm at the beach so I got a private viewing of the movie in a 200-seat theatre (guess 9/11 movies aren't a big attraction when on vacation).<br /><br />Needless to say the movie was emotional. Watching bodies fall 100 stories, reliving those days, weeks, months was difficult.<br /><br />As a family member of a victim, I applaud Mr. Stone and Mr. Cage in their performances. I was braced for the usual political commentary that Hollywood is so willing to bestow on me, but it never came. What I saw was a great story of the courage of the people - the heroes that day. The face on Mr. McLoughlin/Cage as he went into towers was not a 'rambo-let's go get him' face, but rather a 'I'm scared as heck but this is the right thing to do' face.<br /><br />The stories told while they were stuck in the rubble were the stories that every one of us lived those days, some of us closer than others. It seemed time moved in super-slow motion during the weeks after 9/11. Not just for people who had family there but for the whole country.<br /><br />When time moves that slow, it is easier to see those God has put in our lives. Our country lives in a 'need for speed' mode that makes us often miss those directly around us. <br /><br />Viewing that movie helped me remember. No one wants to live the tragedy of 9/11 over again. But all of us should try to live the simpler, slower lifestyle that immediately followed that tragedy. Put the crackberry down, say no to over-commitment so that you can say yes to those surrounding you.<br /><br />His speed..<br /><br />GUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1154362264620217112006-07-31T09:10:00.000-07:002006-07-31T09:11:35.996-07:00My Belarusian Adventure...For those of you wanting to follow along, I've been posting my experiences on <a href="http://fishrcutb8.blogspot.com/">MY BLOG</a>. <br /><br />You can find the specific entries here:<br /><br />Installment One: <a href="http://fishrcutb8.blogspot.com/2006/07/on-first-leg-of-journey.html">New York to Warsaw</a><br />Installment Two: <a href="http://fishrcutb8.blogspot.com/2006/07/warsaw-poland.html">Warsaw Poland</a><br /><br />Again, I invite you to leave comments at the bottom of entries that move you, inspire you or leave you asking questions. All the best, my brothers.FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1154098132246897042006-07-28T07:48:00.000-07:002006-07-28T07:50:42.206-07:00A three legged stool...I sometimes post at a <a href="http://forums.jpfitness.com/">fitness bulletin board</a>, and I reached a milestone post--3,000. I thought you might be interested to read this, so I'm posting it here for your consumption/questions/consideration. <br /><br /><br />I want to write, at this point, about balance. I am seeking to build a three-legged stool. Those three legs will be my body, mind and soul. <br /><br /><strong>Body</strong><br />Almost ten years ago, I set out to change my lifestyle. I was, at that time, a pack-a-day smoker who found getting up in the morning to be a difficult task. On January 1, 1997 I gave up cigarettes (there’s going to be one heckuva celebration this year, boys and girls). As with most people, I substituted eating for the ciggies, took a more sedentary job and managed to gain quite a bit of weight. I ballooned up to 220+ on my six-foot frame.<br /><br />A story that’s familiar to many: One morning I was shaving at the mirror and my wife looked over at me and asks, “Why are you sticking your belly out like that?” I wasn’t. OUCH! I made a decision that day that I needed to Fish or Cut Bait, and my moniker was born. I picked up my first copy of Men’s Health (thank you Lou Schuler, for then and for now) that day, about 4 years ago. I started working out, and gradually lost the weight. In those ten years, I’ve quit cigarettes, gained and lost weight (I now hang around 195), had a beautiful daughter (love you Katie Rose) who gets to hang out with her healthy dad, learned how to eat clean (thanks Karocka), lifted small and lifted big, logged countless miles running and riding (thanks Harrisburg Bicycle Club), competed in two triathlons (Got the Nerve?) and managed, along the way, to even inspire a couple of other people to live healthier (including my incredible wife, Joan, who also gave up smoking). <br /><br /><strong>Mind</strong><br />I have learned and continue to learn so much from the members of this board, their intelligence and their wisdom. It's not just fitness either, and those of you who have been around know what I am talking about. I’ve learned about plants (Gardener), kids (JP and Erika), outdoor fun (ODB), how to cook up a salmon and a clean cheesecake (Johnka), baseball (Lefty and Lou), and the likelihood of winning an argument if you’re a married man (it ain’t good…thanks Brad/Q). I‘ve discovered new ways of dealing with people in the gym who are rude or nasty (thanks Danny) and that humor (that’s humour to my international friends) is a great way to deal with many situations (Ninja) and that self-deprecating humor/humour is oftentimes the funniest, and is a sign of a humble spirit (for my money, no one here does it better than Bond, though JavaJunkie deserves a shout). I’ve learned that men and women can coexist in a "locker room" and it doesn’t need to devolve into a mindless morass of stupid-sex-talk, that intelligent, funny discussion can be the order of the day (thanks OT Forum self-policing, and especially JP for giving us a place and carte blanche to do so).<br /><br />I’ve gained a deeper understanding and respect for people with different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. I’ve always had this, as my mom came from Ireland and having a parent of foreign birth gives you a naturally broader perspective. Still, I’ve grown so much in this area from people here, (thank you so much, Kaiser and Ruma). <br /><br />I’ve learned that you can build friendships and even a community online, and that you can, with a modicum of effort, take those relationships farther (thanks Mahler, Lefty, Lou, Q….I know I’m forgetting others—My apolgies). I’ve learned that the borders and barriers between these friendships are of our own creation, and their dismantling is equally of our own choice. Mostly, I’ve learned that no matter how you say “about” there’s still only one way to spell it, and this little lesson shows us that we should focus on the things that bring us together, while acknowledging and celebrating the things that make us unique. It’s how we develop, broaden and sharpen our minds.<br /><br /><strong>Soul</strong><br />In seeking the last leg of my stool, I found it in my church. About four years ago, my wife and I walked into Aldersgate United Methodist Church. It felt like home. It's the kind of place that meets you spiritually where you are, but doesn't let you stay there. Pastor Mark Webb does an amazing job, never shying away from tough topics or difficult ideas. I like watching the way he deals with people, and I’ve learned from his gentle approach (those of you who know me know that “gentle” is not generally in my nature). He takes the time. We also had a woman Pastor, Natalya Cherry who just moved on to a new church. I already miss her decidedly feminine approach to the gospel, her wit and wisdom, her love for God and how she expressed it by loving other people. <br /><br />I have grown and continue to grow, deepening my relationship with God by improving my relationships with people around me, my "neighbors". The brothers and sisters I have met, the friendships I have grown at Aldersgate show me what a caring community of Christ is all about. I’ve become very active with the men’s group, and I am constantly amazed at how this group of men helps each other, other members of the church, and even members of the local community (they are currently involved in restoring and cleaning up a woman’s house in time for her husband’s return from Iraq. <br /><br />I offer this, not as an attempt at braggadocio, but as shining examples of how I want to live my life: gently, boldly, helping others with the Spirit as my guide and my helper. <br /><br /><strong>The Three Legged Stool</strong><br />One of my favorite (favourite to Vern) things to watch is boxing. I am enthralled by the ability of the human body to take the punishment it does, round after round. I remember Ali, Sugar Ray, Foreman, Frazier, Lewis, and other great fighters like Roy Jones Jr., Spinks, lace>Hopkinslace>, and de la Hoya, and the incredible story of Cinderella Man Jim Braddock. All of these fighters, these survivors of incredible battering and beating, these champions who weathered the odds, the naysayers and the critics, have one thing in common. In between the beatings, the pummelings, the booing, the smashing, the cheering, and the disappointing rounds, they all sat down on a well balanced, properly designed three legged stool. They collected their thoughts, rethought strategies, evaluated opponents, rested their weary bodies, and waited for the bell to ring. And when it rang, they rose off that perfect, balanced three legged stool and went out to face their foe knowing they could not be beaten, could not be defeated, no matter what anyone did or said. They were born to be victorious.<br /><br /><strong>Conclusion</strong><br />Last year, many of you know, I went on a mission trip to work with the kids in an orphanage in Belarus. I went back this year to see them again. I offer this 3,000th post not as a full explanation, nor as a finishing point, but as the beginning of a deeper exploration of what it means to be a disciple, to build and strengthen the third leg of my stool, and what it means to get up off my stool and go out with confidence to face my foe, rising as a child/man/warrior of God, born to be victorious. <br /><br />You can follow along at my blog, as many of you already do: http://fishrcutb8.blogspot.com/ At the bottom of each post is a "comment" area. If you see something that you like, or something you question, or if you're just curious about whether I read the comments (I do) and respond (ditto), feel free to leave your thoughts. You can even do it anonymously.<br /><br />Now go forth and conquer, like the champions you were born to be.FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1153835027679245922006-07-25T06:43:00.000-07:002006-07-25T06:43:47.786-07:00Back from Belarus...I just got back from the Aldersgate Mission Trip to Belarus. Reports from the trip, including people, places, miracles (large and small) will follow. I wanted to let you know, dear readers, that all went well. Stay tuned, and thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers that saw us through this trip...FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1152016766874345722006-07-04T05:39:00.000-07:002006-07-04T05:39:26.986-07:00Child of GodI went to my friend Randy's funeral for his 3 year old son. It was hands-down the hardest thing I have ever sat through. It was also one of the most powerful testaments to the power of God I have seen. Randy's brother said a few words about how he didn't know Drew personally, only through videos and cards and letters and phone conversation. It made me feel like I was in the same place--not really knowing him, but knowing him by association. He showed a video he had of Drew as "The Heavyweight Champion of the World" with a Rocky theme which Drew used to love watching with his dad. <br /><br />It was heartbreaking, yet amazing in capturing the joy and innocence of a child. Running, playing, doing cartwheels, just being a kid. I have the same videos of my daughter...if you're a parent, you probably have those pictures or videos, too.<br /><br />Then Randy spoke. I honestly don't know how he found the strength to do it. Since I knew him, he has grown to know God in a similar vein as I have. It was amazing to see this man I had known as a carefree, easy going guy, now expressing his own relationship with God. He talked about many things, but these are the things I came away with. He talked about the day of the accident, and all of the amazing people he met, who helped him, his family and who tried to save his son. He talked about the people at the hospital, strangers who came in to pray with him. <br /><br />The EMTs and ER doctors kept Drew alive while his mom was being flown in to the Emergency Room. Randy asked them to keep him alive so Marcie could say goodbye. While he was waiting with his son, Randy remembered the day of his son's baptism, how his Pastor, Troy, had taken him around to the congregation and even outside the church, and introduced Drew to the world: This is Drew Michael Taylor: A Child of God. And so, as the doctors, nurses, EMTs and others came to speak with Randy, he introduced them: "This is my son, Drew Michael Taylor, a child of God." <br /><br />Finally, Marcie did arrive and she was told the news. In another display of strength, she asked the doctors if his organs could be donated. The docs said no, there was too much damage. She asked again, saying, please, there must be some way Drew can help one more person. Again, it took a strength and a courage I cannot even imagine, to even think of this at a time like this. <br /><br />Randy and Marcie went in to say goodbye to Drew. And then he was gone.<br /><br />Then Randy had to tell his eight-year-old daughter, Lauren, that her brother was gone. I don't know how I would have handled it. This is how Randy handled it. He got down on his knees and prayed. He asked God to give him the strength and wisdom he needed, because he recognized that this was going to be the most important moment in his life, the moment that defined him as a father. When he told his Lauren, he did it with the strength, the wisdom, the grace and the love of the Holy Spirit. <br /><br />In the days that followed, people asked the questions one asks, the same ones I did: "How are you and the family holding up?" "Is there anything I can do to help?" One of his friends asked, "What have you learned from this?" At first, I thought it a harsh question. I don't know if Randy did or will experience the rage and disappointment I felt with God when I heard. I suspect it's impossible not to. The thing that struck me was his response to the question. What he learned is the meaning of life. Randy said it all boils down to three things: <br />The people you love<br />The people who love you<br />What can you do for God<br /><br />...and with that, he left the pulpit, sat down with his family, waited to hear the preachers words, and went out to send Drew Michael Taylor, Child of God, home to Heaven.<br /><br />Many things have occurred to me since then. I don't think that I take a lot of things for granted, and I have a good grasp on how much God has blessed me. Still, it gave me pause and made me consider how I could spend my time here loving my family and friends more, and better. The other thing that I saw was how God never allowed Randy to be alone. I think at times like this, the worst part is when we are alone in the midst of it. Randy didn't have that. The EMTs, the doctors, the chaplain at the hospital, a local congregation that showed up to help and pray with his family as they recovered from the wreck, the local community, the schools where Randy and Marcie teach, and especially his own church. In all of these people, God made His presence not just known, but felt.FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1150481765177436332006-06-16T11:16:00.000-07:002006-06-16T11:16:12.946-07:00Mission: Possible<strong>Mission Statement: Possible</strong><br />The new VP of Sales at my company decreed each of his employees should come up with a personal mission statement. My friend and colleague Mike found <a href="http://www.netinsight.co.uk/portfolio/mission/missgen.asp">this site</a>, which is absolutely perfect.<br /><br />My first spin: <em>Our business is dedicated to improving the full range of our dynamic metamorphisis by performance and added value second to none. </em><br /><br />The scary part? It was better than what I had at that point. Still, developing a mission statement is a surprisingly good exercise. As many of you know, I am a fan of self-improvement and learning new things. Quite frankly, I have been surprised by how this process is focusing me. <br /><br />If you would like to do it, too, there are a couple of good sites I'd recommend. <a href="http://www.franklincovey.com/fc/library_and_resources/mission_statement_builder">Here is one</a>. Here is <a href="http://www.quintcareers.com/creating_personal_mission_statements.html">another</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Here is my Personal Mission Sattement:</strong><br /><em>I will act as a Renaissance man of God, fusing integrity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning in all of my endeavors. I will be known, respected, and sought out for excellence in all aspects of my personal and professional life.</em>FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1148588742100806332006-05-25T13:25:00.000-07:002006-05-25T13:25:42.516-07:00Tri to Gain Glory...Some of you have been following my efforts as I prepare for my <a href="http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeosi4t/id19.html">triathlon</a>. I've posted quite a bit on <a href="http://fishrcutb8.blogspot.com/">my blog</a>. In my quiet times last night and today, I tried to focus on the analogy that Paul gives us of a race in Hebrews 12: 1-3:<br /><blockquote> 1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us (B)run with endurance the race that is set before us, <br /> 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has (G)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. <br /> 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. <br /></blockquote><br /><br />It got me to thinking about how often we....errrr...I...lose focus on divine things, on God, and struggle with the things of this world. One of the things I recognize is the importance of that focus, how critical it is to maintain at all times if we are to finish the race that is set before us. Our training, the things we consume, the way we prepare, the hardship and adversity we overcome..all of these things prepare us for the race toward glory. <br /><br />Imagine, too, the glory of winning that race!!! If I were to win on Saturday, I would recieve a medal that would tarnish, rust, and eventually turn to dust. How much more vigilant and focused then, should our training and focus be as we race toward eternity?FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1147791981706715592006-05-16T08:06:00.000-07:002006-05-16T08:14:39.380-07:00Whodat?"A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father's shop. He has no formal education. He owns no property of any kind. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father's shop. He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside. Walking from place to place preaching all the while even though he is in no way an ordained minister he never gets farther than an area perhaps 100 miles wide at the most. He does this for three years. Then he is arrested, tried and convicted. There is no court of appeal so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves. Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing -- the only possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial place so he is interred in a borrowed tomb. End of story? No, this uneducated, propertyless young man who preached on street corners for only three years who left no written word has for 2000 years had a greater effect on the entire world than all the rulers, kings and emperors, all the conquerors, the generals and admirals, all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who ever lived -- all put together. How do we explain that? ...Unless he really was what he said he was." <br /><br />--Ronald ReaganVern Hyndmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14420304563548538128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1146789488174240612006-05-04T17:22:00.000-07:002006-05-04T17:39:56.496-07:00Man's Testimony About ManIn John 2:24-25, John notes that Jesus did not need man's testimony about man:<br /><blockquote><em>But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.<br /></em></blockquote><br />One of the most powerful things we can do as men is share our testimony with another man. I believe it is that life-on-life ministry that drives the power of Christ's church on this earth.<br /><br />But I'll be honest too often my testimony is about man, not about Him and His Spirit. Also in today's reading:<br /><blockquote><em>The Spirit links Himself with us in our praying and pours His supplication into our own. We may master the technique of prayer and understand its philosophy; we may have unlimited confidence in the veracity and validity of the promises concerning prayer. We may plead them earnestly. <strong>But if we ignore the part played by the Holy Spirit, we have failed to use the master key.</strong><br /></em><div align="right">--J. Oswald Sanders</div></blockquote><br /><div align="left">Guilty as charged. Again. From now on my testimony will focus on Him and His Spirit, but mostly I will take time today to pray, and to make sure I'm not ignoring His Spirit:</div><div align="left"><blockquote><em>The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; not those who can explain about prayer, but I mean those people who take time and pray. They have not the time. <strong>It must be taken from something else.</strong> This something else is important- very important and pressing, but still less important and less pressing than prayer.</em></blockquote></div><div align="right">--S.D. Gordon</div><blockquote></blockquote><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Thank goodness He knows my weaknesses, my failures, my faults.. and most importantly my desire to follow Him.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1146670700746247792006-05-03T08:38:00.000-07:002006-05-03T08:38:20.856-07:00A Little Levity...A young boy had just gotten his driver's permit and enquired of his father, if they could discuss his use of the car. His father said, "I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little, get your hair cut and we'll talk about the car." <br /><br />Well, the boy thought about that for a moment, settled for the offer, and they agreed on it. After about six weeks they went in to the study, where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud. You've brought your grades up, and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, and participating a lot more in the Bible study groups. But, I'm real disappointed, since you haven't gotten your hair cut." <br /><br />The young man paused a moment, and then said, "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there's even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair also." <br /><br />To this his father replied, "Did you also notice they all walked everywhere they went?"FishrCutB8http://www.blogger.com/profile/01796633855881631465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145999489364446042006-04-25T13:54:00.000-07:002006-04-25T14:19:36.956-07:00Prophet for the TimesAfter reading last week <a href="http://aldersgateman.blogspot.com/2006/04/badspel-of-judas-revisited-2.html">the post about Judas as prophet</a> for the times.. my quiet time today was in <a href="http://www.ibs.org/niv/passagesearch.php?passage_request=micah+2&niv=yes">Micah 2</a>:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,' he would be just the prophet for this people!</blockquote><p>10 years ago <strong><em>HE</em></strong> was the prophet I was looking for. Everything in our society - the one controlled by The Liar/Deceiver - points us in that direction.<br /><br />One lesson I am trying to teach my children is that running a hard race may seem less enjoyable than watching it on a couch, but there is no comparison between the joy felt at the end: having done it versus having watched it done.<br /><br />The wine and beer of our society, whether it is alcohol-based or some other intoxicant (my preference is chocolate) turns us into watchers not doers. It's not the wine and beer that are bad, but the results they bring on.<br /><br />Choose this day to do it. Not watch it. Now the only question that remains: How do you define 'it'?! I prefer my definition to given in 'daily bread' doses, anchored by the Book of all books, and on this other <a href="http://www.ibs.org/niv/passagesearch.php?passage_request=micah+2&niv=yes">Micah 2</a> character:<br /></p><blockquote>12 I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. 13 One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head.</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145905361964302832006-04-24T12:01:00.001-07:002006-04-24T12:02:41.966-07:00Another Unlikely Follower...<blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>"Just think about the situation Christ's disciples were in after He left them. Here was a group of peasants, powerless, up against the most powerful empire in the world. Possible prison time was the very least of their worries. They knew that torture and execution could be in their future if they refused to stop preaching the name of Jesus Christ. But they couldn't stop. To a man, they kept talking about Christ's life, death, and resurrection to anyone who would listen. None of them would deny or retract their story. Eventually, just as the authorities had threatened, most of them were executed for it. But still, all of them maintained to the very end that Jesus had risen from the dead—that they had seen Him, touched Him, talked with Him. What would inspire men to suffer and die for a belief? Only one thing—the absolute certainty that their belief was true... Which leads me inescapably to one conclusion: Jesus' resurrection was not a lie. These apostles would have turned state's evidence in a heartbeat, copped a plea, unless they had seen the risen Christ in the flesh... Their<br />courage, their steadfastness, proves that their story is the truth. And that makes it a truth worth living—and dying—for."</blockquote><div align="right">—Chuck Colson </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145558821186099332006-04-20T11:47:00.000-07:002006-04-20T12:05:48.693-07:00A plan to set us free!<span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >All right here’s the other one I found.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ></span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >On the lighter side.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >As I was thinking how to free myself from myself to better serve the Lord. I thought maybe I could let myself go if I had someone to interpret (an interpreter) my excitement, my love of Jesus and His glorious love for me into standard, appropriate, proper reverent church speak. I too could be so transparent and open to share the Word in a meaningful way and not suffer from or worry about the giggles or "looks”.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Hallalooja--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><strong><u><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >ME as a Pastor Mike type.</span></u><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >------------------------- </span></strong><u><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Interpreter as a </span></u><strong><u><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Me </span></u></strong><u><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >type or is it you?</span></u><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >-------------------</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Friends!!! </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >--------------------------------------------- </span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >those in attendance</span><br /><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I wish to tell you God’s story about me! --</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >in the bulletin you will find an </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >anonymous</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >letter concerning a </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >witness </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >account</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > </span><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I love God! I love Jesus! I believe in the---</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I attend church regularly</span><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >Holy Spirit!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >He uses me to do His work------------------------</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I volunteer if someone asks me</span><br /><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >to bring His love to others!-----------------------</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I enjoy being in the choir</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I love you!!!</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >------------------------------------------</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I am popular here</span><br /><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >And I have to share this glorious passion---</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I hand out pamphlets discreetly</span><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >for Christ.</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ></span><br /><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >To build you up and encourage you------------</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I lead a couple of classes</span><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >in His name.</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ></span><br /><br /><strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >It has to come out!!---------------------------------</span></strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >If you’ve got a minute will you read </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >this?</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > I don’t think it will offend anyone, </span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > or make him or her feel nervous or </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >uncomfortable. </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > <br /> I hope not.<br /> Oh p-lease give it back, I’d like to check it again.----</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >I really think the diversion of an interpreter could set us free!</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >You get the idea. Please edit, add to, comment or suggest. I might send the results on to the drama team for consideration. Just have your attorney check and ok it first.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" >try again YBIC </span>Bob Reddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480027715859308293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145536006565599522006-04-20T05:26:00.000-07:002006-04-20T05:26:49.203-07:00Ok I think I got itI stumbled upon this document when attempting to clean up an overburdened hard drive. It had been submitted to the original AMBS Blog (which was promptly cyberspaced, or black holed by a certain unnamed matador) during the week following our visit from Pastor Mike of Belarus. I was going to delete it because I didn’t think it timely anymore, but I read it first. I realized again, I don’t want to lose that fire, that first love I used to have and was stoked to the sky by that man. I’m going to print it out, keep it and read it once in awhile to stir up the feelings he gave me and remember to stay hot! God bless him.Maybe you could print it out to stoke a fire too.Gentleman, the Spaniard asked me to share. He thinks the blog is dead! It’s walking across the street without shoes! It’s Lucy in the sky with diamonds. (It’s an age thing.) I think not. It just needs to meet Pastor Mike! On Monday I sent an email to our brother about how I woke up thinking about Pastor Mike and even though for only seeing him two days I was sad because I wouldn’t see him today! I couldn’t even begin to express how moved I was by this man chosen by God. I wanted to thank him for his part in bringing Pastor Mike here (I’m sure you will too) and that now I truly knew what he was talking about when he spoke of him. I also wrote I didn’t think I would ever be the same because of meeting him. I still believe that! I didn’t know a word this man said (but for ameen and hallelooja) yet knew everything he meant. The handicap of a translator did not slow him down or ease the urgency of his message. When I say not the same I mean that Pastor Mike’s enthusiasm for sharing the love of Jesus was indescribable! Shocking! Humbling! Spine tingling! Raised the hair on the back of your neck exciting. Convicting! Comforting! And personally, shaming. He said, “What is in me has to come out”. As you well witnessed, it does and he lets it out with such transparency, so totally filled to overflowing and he didn’t care who was there or what he looked like, sounded like or what others might think or perceive him to be. Actually I’m sure he did care who was there as I’m also sure he wished it had been everyone. The whole world!It had to come out. I feel like that. But I let my feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness wall it in or get in the way too many times. I wouldn’t want people to think I’m stupid or silly. I’d be hanging out there, set up for rejection or marked as different. (you know, “one of them” that everyone’s so afraid of). This man sets himself aside completely to help God’s children. He’s suffered persecution for His and for his love. (sound familiar?) Meanwhile I worry about the observations and opinions of earthly people. My feelings. What a pity. How can I live this way? Why aren’t we all telling the news this way? We know God’s love, cry for it and cry because of it. I don’t understand how some people can have no outlet, no way to fully enjoy this love by expressing it. It must be shared Pastor Mike tells us. It has to come out! Like it’s a matter of life or death to him! Or to us. Isn’t it?I think if I didn’t at least have as an outlet the words and music of Godly people to sing (and hide behind in the safety of a church building?) I might explode too. But I’ve been feeling it’s not enough since Pastor Mike. Maybe I should stop for a while and listen and see where He leads. I mean really listen. Don’t get me wrong, I’m continually blessed by singing, but it’s just what I do to give thanks to Him for his presence in my life and for His glory. You try yelling as loud as you can “Jesus Loves Me” or “Go Tell it on the Mountain” repeatedly and see if His joy doesn’t come to you and maybe even splashes on someone else. It sets you free! I mean it. Try it. It really works.This is what Pastor Mike does, but he carries it out in the open amongst everyone and anyone. For all to see and feel. And he grieves for those who are blind and for those who can’t hear. It’s like a giant fountain on a windy day with this guy. Everyone within earshot gets wet. It’s what I need to do. God maybe won’t ever ask me to be a Pastor Mike, but I could sing on a street corner every once in awhile. Until He calls.You know, “Let It Out".YBICBob Reddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14480027715859308293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145450395351861072006-04-19T05:23:00.000-07:002006-04-19T05:39:55.366-07:0095%One aspect of 9/11 lost on most of the population is the ongoing efforts (yes, 4.5 years later) to identify all the remains found at Ground Zero. On Monday we buried what is believed to be Maria's upper torso, bringing, according to funeral home estimates, the total of her buried to about 95%, and what most believe will be the final tally.<br /><br />I don't often let myself think about that day, it is too painful, but here are some out loud thoughts:<br />- It appears that my sister's body was in two major pieces, or one piece and many other pieces.<br />- I believed that day, and continue to believe, that she did not survive the incredible smoke, as she was on the next to top floor. That means that she had already died when the towers crashed, which caused the official 'blunt force trauma' listed on her death certificate.<br />- I continue to focus on the 41 years we had together rather than the 4 apart. She is missed by everyone in this family.<br />- I am reminded constantly of how fleeting this life is, and to cherish each moment with the loved ones around us.<br />- You often hear from 'the 9/11 victim's families', but I can tell you that they rarely solicit my family's feedback on those conversations. There are organized families fighting for different causes and I applaud many of them, and some I do not.<br />- My preference is that Ground Zero remain a big hole in the ground. There is no greater memorial than that, building anything on that ground just doesn't seem right. I know, you didn't ask...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145419620156180652006-04-18T21:05:00.000-07:002006-04-18T21:07:00.176-07:00The Badspel of Judas Revisited 2Another perspective on Judas (hat tip <a href="http://www.instapundit.com">Instapundit</a>)<br /><a href="http://americandigest.org/mt-archives/006301.php">http://americandigest.org/mt-archives/006301.php</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145376293849872962006-04-18T09:04:00.000-07:002006-04-18T09:04:53.886-07:00walk into the painBefore we suffer, suffering is our worst nightmare.<br /><br />Becoming a parent, I lived in fear of what I'd do if I were to have a special needs kid.<br />I feared being betrayed.<br />As a wealthy man, I looked at those who struggled for food and shuddered, and immediately thought of all the reasons that they were the way they were, and why I would never be that way.<br />As an attractive man, I looked at those who were not so attractive and deep inside, knew that I'd dodged the bullet on that one... only to be reminded occasionally, with an unsettling feeling, as I walked through the burn unit and looked at those whose faces had macabre holes where a nose used to be, and scar tissue rather than features... that in an instant I could be one of them, not one of us.<br /><br />And then God gave me Kaitlin. I learned to accept that she was not going to be "normal"... and I grieved the loss... and then I embraced the gift that she is... if you were to ask me today if I'd like God to erase her "differentness", I just couldn't do it. She is the beautiful girl God created, who has conversations in the back seat while I'm driving... "Jesus, you goofball, you made FLOWERS! What's Your favorite color?"<br /><br />And God gave me eyes to see the betrayal of those I trusted most. And He showed my that HE had not betrayed me.<br /> <br />And God took everything I owned... my house, my NEXT house, my cars, my Harley, my job, my career, my ability to hold it all together... then my family. And HE reformed it all, and gave SOME of it back. And then He gave me new gifts... gifts only received through suffering. He made it possible, after the cars were repo'd, for me to swap IT work for a car rental place for the use of a rental car. So there I was, driving a Ford Taurus with 12 miles on the odometer, YELLING at God... "God, I DON"T EVEN HAVE A CAR!"... ... .... .... "Uhhh, except for the one I'm DRIVING!"... God showed me ownership is not important, and that I shouldn't pray for a car, but that I should pray for transportation. Let Him provide what he will. The rent car, besides being hot off the assembly line, came with insurance... I didn't even need insurance... and I had the gall to be unsatisfied! God taught me EXACTLY what it's like to stand in line at the food bank... and not be able to explain WHY things are the way they are, yet need the help none the less.<br /><br />And then God took my teeth... and I started to look like more like a homeless guy than an executive. And I learned the unspoken cruelty our society has for those who are not physically beautiful. And I learned to actively love, particularly those who are less lovable by our society's standards.<br /><br />And EVERYTHING in my life that is worth ANYTHING, came as a direct result of suffering.<br /><br />And I learned to live to survive the next five minutes. I learned to find contentment in THIS moment. I learned to embrace the process without regard for the result.<br /><br />And I am almost fearless... because true Love casts out all fear... yet He doesn't specify HOW He casts it out. His methods vary, and not all of them are painless.<br /><br />I know. I didn't enjoy it, yet I do recommend it.<br /><br />Walk into the pain.<br /><br />-vern-Vern Hyndmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14420304563548538128noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1145046249838134322006-04-14T13:02:00.000-07:002006-04-14T13:24:09.850-07:00"Integrity"Christian men are called to be men of integrity, although that term often slips by me sometimes. The simplest definition that I cling to is this:<br /><br />"Do what you say, say what you do."<br /><br />That goes beyond the 'lying' aspect. It is a given that we should not lie. It also means that we keep commitments, that what people see on the outside is also what is on the inside. That our word is our bond, our honor.<br /><br />Perhaps the biggest commitment a man can make is to his spouse. The vows of marriage have been cheapened by society's acceptance of a spouse running when times get tough.<br /><br />Everyone knows the 'that which does not kill you makes you stronger' quote. That applies to marriage as well. The couple that sticks through the tough times, and makes an honest attempt at coming out together, becomes stronger. That is as true the first year of marriage as it is the 35th year.<br /><br />The advantage that Christians have in that area is that Christians know 2 things:<br />- They are called by Christ to love. There is no one more 'neighborly' than our spouse. And Christ demonstrated repeatedly what He meant by love, and it never looked like the love of Hugh Hefner. It was service, healing, lifting up the subjects of His love.<br />- They can rely on the strength of Christ. When you give up chasing your own desires and let Christ drive the car, you benefit from divine strength. You may feel like you are in such a bad place there is no way to love another, even or especially your spouse. With Christ you have strength to love no matter where you are at.<br /><br />A Christian loves their spouse during and out of the bad times. They muster the strength to do that by relying on Christ. They do not rely on their spouse to lift them up, because there is no guarantee that will happen. Often both in the relationship are worn down, and the relationship needs to be bootstrapped like a computer, with Christ providing the BIOS. One of the partners needs to insert that Christ BIOS diskette and press CTRL-ALT-DEL.<br /><br />If you are in the middle of a mediocre to bad relationship or marriage, my prescription is to try another relationship, one that will NOT make you give up the first: a true relationship with Jesus. If you're reading this you probably already have an acquitance-level relationship with Him ("I say Hi to Him when I see Him or on Sunday"). It's time to ratchet it up, time to upgrade your BIOS.<br /><br />When you accept Him as Savior and Lord, your life will change like you never imagined. Your assignment today: Read <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=652950&netp_id=228849&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW">The Great Divorce</a>, paying close attention to the man with the lizard. There are amazing things waiting for you, if only you'll take that step.<br /><br />Be a man of integrity, make promises and vows. And keep them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24472619.post-1144809199869249402006-04-11T19:25:00.000-07:002006-04-11T19:35:14.513-07:00chicken littleJust watched chicken little.<br /><br />For fathers who are afraid they've missed the hearts of their children, and for children of all ages whose fathers missed THEIR hearts... this film depicts the process. It shows dad missing the point, wounding his son, both by action and by omission.<br /><br />And then the redeption... the healing of wounds and the reconcilliation of hearts. If it actually mentioned the healing of Christ, I might call it the best father/son movie of all time.<br /><br />Sadly, many of us will never find reconcilliation with Dad, and from a humanistic perspective this might be depressing.<br /><br />But Jesus says He came to bind up the broken hearted and free the captives... even those held captive by poor parenting and abuse.<br /><br />So when you watch chicken little, remember that some of us will have to be re-fathered by Jesus, and that being mentored and fathered by Jesus isn't second best.<br /><br />And remember that many in our world are starving for the emotional fulfillment of a bear hug... and that to many, we will be the first glimpse of Jesus. Yeah, that's the ticket.. a Jesus sized bear hug. I'll try not to tickle your face with my wiskers in the process.<br /><br />-vern-Vern Hyndmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14420304563548538128noreply@blogger.com0