HCLM BLOG

It was a month ago when I was driving up to Gainesville to visit Margaret's father who was in the VA Hospital. Kevin Keelan called me and asked if I had any book recommendations for him since he was getting ready to go on a long road trip. I gave him two (I can't remember what titles I recommended) and he really enjoyed one and said I should blog about books that I have written. "I'm not Oprah and who would care what I like?" I said to him. "Think about it." I did, and finally, I'm taking the time to write a few thoughts.

My goal is to read (or listen) to 52 books this year. I did 40 last year and 35 the year before that. So I've come across some really good ones and some that I didn't think were so great. So if you are looking for some reading material, I'll post some thoughts on the books that I am reading.

I just finished reading my fourth book from Andy Andrews. All ("The Travelers Gift" "Mastering the Seven Decisions" "The Noticer" and "The Lost Choice") are based on his life story, having lost both parents when he was 19. Through a series of decisions he found himself living under a pier. Considering the meaning of life, it is just a roll of the dice to see who gets what, he began to read biographies, a hobby that changed his life. He discovered some universal principles that have guided his life. Each book takes a new look at these principles in creative ways. He is a much sought after speaker and his books have been on the NY Times best seller list. I give all of them my READ THIS category. But remember, I'm not Oprah.

I came across this quote: “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” – Mother Theresa. Lauren, one of our confirmation mentors I believes embodies this idea. Following confirmation this past Wednesday she hung around and waited for me to finish conversations with students and parents. She opened with this phrase, "what a great night!" I know the thought of spending the night with middle school students would scare some. But she is not just doing a ministry but rather investing in the lives of four young girls and it is already starting to pay off. As she described the authentic level of personal sharing of their lives and the faith discussions and their spiritual growth, I could literally see the joy in her eyes. I can't help but think this comes from her being a joyful person. Now she has caught souls. If only I could travel down the corridors of time to see how the investment she spends with her team makes a difference for eternity. For all the Lauren's out there, keep up the good work.

Wrapped up another night of confirmation. Just finished locking up the building and had a compelling feeling to share a few thoughts on the night (something I haven't done in a LONG time).

 We started the prayer packet tonight (the third packet in a series of seven). As we closed the night, I asked the kids to grab their Bible and spread out over the upstairs walkway. They were to spend the last ten minutes in quiet, just listening for God. No ipods, no cell phones, no talking. It was quite a site, 25 middle school students in complete silence wrapped all around the balcony. It brought to mind Psalms 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God."

 Honestly, I needed that quiet moment more then they did. It was refreshing. A great way to end the day. A great way to start the day as well. While wallowing in the endless quagmire of busyness and activity, a still moment with God might be just what you need tonight as well. I need to do that more often.

Chris and I have been talking about how much he's enjoying leading children's worship. He has some good thoughts one why he likes it, and it's affected how he thinks about service. It's changed from a task to a joy. Rather than paraphrase, I thought I'd give you him in his own words.

I had a long conversation with a Lake Mary Police officer today.

1. I'm working on a bible study that goes with psalm 37:4. This is cool_God will give you the desires of your heart. As we learn to live like Jesus we find we have every thing we want. Scripture doesn't tell us to squash our desire, just to wait on the Lord to give it...I'm waiting for the fall weather. What are you waiting for?

Remember the old song that praises the peace and beauty of the wide-open spaces of the western U.S.? “Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope play.” My favorite line is what comes next …”Where seldom is heard a discouraging word.” What a great place the ‘range’ must be!

Unfortunately, this wonderful place where discouraging words are seldom heard is increasingly difficult to find. Much more common are places and situations where discouraging words are the norm. Perhaps fueled by the increase in negative media stories, talk shows, instant ability to post and access opinions, and polarizing politics, our quest often seems to be to do our best to discourage others, especially those in leadership positions.

The effect of the increasing presence of discouraging words on us individually and collectively is cause for concern. Each of us knows all too well how demoralizing and damaging it is to be on the receiving end of discouraging words. And, as words of discouragement are so present around us, how easy it becomes to jump on the discouragement bandwagon by criticizing others!

While it is disappointing to observe and experience this atmosphere of discouragement, we as a Christian community have a great opportunity to create a counter-culture of encouragement! We can draw from the example of Barnabus (son of encouragement), whose ministry specialty as cited often in the New Testament was encouraging others. What if Holy Cross Lutheran Ministries congregations, our church schools, the agencies of the church became “discouragement free-zones,” known in our community as a place where people are affirmed along their life and faith journey and never discouraged by the sting of words, actions, and attitudes meant to bring harm to body, mind, or spirit? Then we would truely be living loving and learning together.

I got the idea for this blog from Rich, Thanks!

I've been reading Wesley the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe before bed. Some nights he's more into it than others. Last night we got to a part where the Lion and the oldest boy are standing at an overlook and they can see much of the land down to the ocean on the horizon. C.S. Lewis is a good descriptive writer and he describes how beautiful the land is as the sun sets the clouds and rolling hills change colors. Then the Lion (a God figure in this children's story) tells the oldest boy that he is going to be king of all he can see, and that just on the horizon is an ancient throne on which he'll sit. It's the position he was born for and it has been waiting for him. It sounded pretty adventurous for a kids story.

So the little girl had one of the best nights of her young life last night! It's amazing how one less interruption to the nights sleep can make the whole day feel a little more hopeful. I got up a little earlier this morning than I have been; sat in the dark, drank coffee, ate eggs and watched the sunrise out the picture window in our house. I looked up and the light blue/grey sky was turning pink then orange then yelllow. I feel like anything could happen today!

In Boxing there is a phrase "Down but not out!" This refers to when a boxer is knocked down but he is not knocked out. That means that he can still get up again and may even still win. The other phrase that is used is, "It is not how many times you get knocked down that counts, but how many times you get up!"

 It kind of a sad time for us all, because the economic news continues to not be good. Although the paper and newscasters say that we have bottomed out and I read the Orlando Business Journal today that said we have been improving for the last 4 months (translated that means that each month we were a little less behind than we were in April). Yet daily someone else brings in a resume and asks me to be on the look out for them as they have lost their job. We have people who are losing their homes and families where both have lost jobs and business owners that have had to lay off 85% of their workforce. There are people getting divorces and people working for much less than they are worth. There are young people who have graduated and can not find a job in their field and youth who planned on college that have had to put it off!

Without a doubt we have been knocked down! But for those of us who know that the Lord is still in control, we are not out! When things are being taken away in our lives we have the tendency to dwell on what we have "lost" rather than to look at what we still have. Everything that we have is a blessing from God, a gift if you will, so who are we to cry that we might not have all that we did a couple of years ago? One of the Old Testament Prophets said "Is the arm of God too short to reach you with His gifts?

We have a great God who is able to do even more that we can ask, so we should not dispair, our God is still in Control!!!!