tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14735580675196823312024-02-19T23:38:01.454-08:00Lent in Real TimeJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-89973097785895197522011-03-08T14:30:00.001-08:002011-03-08T14:30:58.748-08:00TomorrowTomorrow our little practice begins in earnest, and so I<br />
just wanted to share a couple of thoughts with you all.<br />
<br />
First off-“40 Days” has become truly global! From Europe to Africa, From the Pacific Rim<br />
to the Americas, From Asia to Oceania and even Elephant Island, Antarctica (but<br />
only in the summer). We are represented on every continent! That just amazes<br />
me-although I can’t give you any good reason why it should. The<br />
love and kindness we desire to know and share knows no geographical limits.<br />
<br />
Second-I have noticed a potential danger in this over the<br />
past several days—There have been times when I’m visiting our group and have<br />
nothing to say, and I find myself tempted to “force it” of “fake it” in order<br />
to feel as though I “fit in”. As if something to post is the price of admission<br />
to our little fellowship. And I would suppose that if I feel like that, there<br />
are probably others who do as well. Let me address this by borrowing a thought<br />
from “The Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous<br />
<br />
“Do not be<br />
discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect<br />
adherence to these principles…the point is that we are willing to grow…we claim<br />
progress, rather than perfection.”<br />
<br />
And lastly-I’d like to leave you with this image from a<br />
Chinese proverb I was reminded of last night; “Fragrance lingers on the hand<br />
that offers roses.”<br />
<br />
Grace and peace to all!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-83802798003276784062011-03-04T18:58:00.001-08:002011-03-04T18:58:52.087-08:00JackI tickled my boys on the couch this morning before work. I wish my dad would have done that with me. I never remember him ever doing that.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-59243774964832627652011-03-04T03:42:00.001-08:002011-03-04T03:42:11.273-08:00Eager KindnessEager Kindness<br />
<br />
(Christ)” gave himself for us to redeem us from all<br />
wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own; eager to<br />
do what is good.” Titus 2:14<br />
<br />
There are many here at “40 Days of Kindness” who have<br />
decided that they are simply not going to be able to wait for March 9th<br />
to begin! I think that they illustrate something important, something that for<br />
the lack of a better term I will call the “goal” of all of this-to love others<br />
by being kind as a lifestyle rather than a campaign.<br />
<br />
They are an inspiration to me! Their example “spurs me on to love and good<br />
deeds”. <br />
<br />
They also make it a little clearer to me that I need to take<br />
“The Christ Life” out of the box I confine it to in my own day-to-day and ALLOW<br />
Him to consume me more completely. To relinquish control and allow God to form<br />
me into the little piece of the mosaic He creates to show His Self to the<br />
world.<br />
<br />
“He’s built a monument, His very people” David CrowderJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-17506577043168404702011-03-04T02:19:00.001-08:002011-03-04T02:19:55.584-08:00WendyI am mailing a card to my Grandma just to say that I am thinking about her. :)Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-69686848152264459302011-03-04T02:18:00.001-08:002011-03-04T02:18:24.331-08:00MissyI was in line to visit my son last night at the local jail..and a lady with her hands full..two twins..came in and just broke the line..got right in front of me. Instead of being angry, I ask her if I could help her with her babies while she sat down...she looked exhausted. She smiled and I was her friend for the night...sadly their daddy was in jail.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-30157382203784902702011-03-04T02:17:00.001-08:002011-03-04T02:17:44.496-08:00MissyI went to a dinner for ALS, and they had lots of donated cake left over. Most people were taking one piece of cake home. I ask for a large box...i filled it to the brim..took it to the projects and gave it to a family that lives in such pov...erty that their floors are dirt and the 4 little children never have shoes on their little feet. They dug into that varity like it was Christmas!!! and loved every bite!! (the lady at the dinner gave me a stern look,like I was not supposed to be so greedy to take so much cake..I told her where it was going..but by her look..she didn't believe me..oh well) Please pray for this family...Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-37857160555267759372011-03-03T04:10:00.001-08:002011-03-03T04:10:59.272-08:00DebiI have been helping people by running errands for them, giving of food when needed, taking people to the store, making calls for people and even going to the doctor with people...Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-79091310698096878712011-03-03T03:49:00.001-08:002011-03-03T03:49:41.597-08:00Missytoday I went to a luncheon and I got up before everyone else had so I could pick up plates so they could socialize..I was told "here would be no tips.!!!"... It was a senior gathering and they loved the pampering...I enjoyed serving them in that very small way. The smiles and thank you's were many and I spoke to each and every single person there and made them feel special for coming.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-69884450142373522182011-03-03T03:03:00.000-08:002011-03-03T03:03:12.354-08:00WandaToday I was out with a friend that I met recently. We went to "Kopps" for ice cream with our children 3 total - ages 4 and under. The kids tried very hard to sta...y quiet but then they just couldn't and started running around. My friend was beginning to feel embarrassed because people began to leave. I made her laugh by saying we will be the talk of their dinner tables tonight. Soon it was just us and our children, it was then that she asked me about my church. We talked about it for a while and she asked about children's programs. I was able to invite her to come to church with me and my family. Now I should mention that this was the 3rd time we talked about it but today was the first time that she really seemed interested. ----- So, long story short. By our children clearing the room out. God was able to allow for a fairly quiet moment for us to talk about him. I was able to share my excitement and love for my church to get her willing to come and hear about Him.--- I find it amazing that God can use a child's restlessness as the perfect time to see God's love and his hand in our days. ---- I do wish though that I could apologize to the people who cleared out though. I feel that we disrupted their day and that was not kind. But God was able to use that situation for his Glory and that is the point I am trying to make. God knew that my friend had a need. That need was to hear. I spoke the words God put into my mouth. I feel it will take a few more conversations and a few more invites for her to be fully ready to come to church.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-2188335089911364242011-03-03T03:02:00.000-08:002011-03-03T03:02:18.626-08:00KimI have an elderly neighbor whose car has been wrecked. And I have been able to take her on errands. She is a real sweet lady. I am praying God will help me reach to others more. I have been caught up in my own depression and not watching for the opportunity. Will make a point so I can respond to the challenge hereJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-74232054758227368192011-03-02T02:51:00.001-08:002011-03-02T02:51:27.545-08:00The Kindness of a Little FlowerThe Kindness of a<br />
Little Flower<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“How shall I show my love is proved by deeds? Well - the<br />
little child will strew flowers...she will embalm the Divine Throne with their<br />
fragrance, will sing with silvery voice the canticle of love.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, my Beloved, it is thus that my life's brief day shall<br />
be spent before Thee. No other means have I of proving my love than to strew<br />
flowers; that is, to let no little sacrifice escape me, not a look, not a word,<br />
to avail of the very least actions and do them for Love. I wish to suffer for<br />
Love's sake and for Love's sake even to rejoice; thus shall I strew flowers.<br />
Not one shall I find without shedding its petals for Thee...and then I will<br />
sing, I will always sing, even if I must gather my roses in the very midst of<br />
thorns - and the longer and sharper the thorns the sweeter shall be my song.”<br />
St. Therese the Little Flower (The Story of a Soul)<br />
<br />
I can find nothing to add to this…perhaps one of you may<br />
have some insight to share?Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-15295886745951046152011-03-02T02:49:00.001-08:002011-03-02T02:49:47.462-08:00Fort KindnessFort Kindness<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bob is a Master Carpenter and General Contractor who does a<br />
lot of work in the inner city of Milwaukee, WI. <br />
He and I were talking yesterday about how far a little kindness can go<br />
and he told me this story.<br />
<br />
He was working on a<br />
job site recently that had a particularly severe problem with stolen materials. After a couple of days of this he noticed<br />
that the missing items were being taken to a vacant lot across the alley where<br />
they were being used to build a ramshackle fort by the kids in the neighborhood.<br />
His crew kept dragging the lumber back and the next day they would arrive to<br />
find even more missing. The crew kept urging Bob to call the police; but Bob<br />
had other ideas.<br />
<br />
The next day Bob went and bought the needed supplies and<br />
enlisted two of his employees to build the fort -complete with a door, windows<br />
and a shingled roof! He tells me that when the neighborhood kids got home from<br />
school that day “You could have been 50 miles away and you still would have<br />
heard them hootin’ and hollerin’”.<br />
<br />
Not only did Bob never have another thing missing from their<br />
project, every morning they would arrive to find that the site had been<br />
meticulously cleaned. Every wood chip, every bent nail, every soda can. They<br />
also found a thank you card signed by<br />
40+ kids. (He keeps it on his mantel).<br />
<br />
Bob’s act of kindness may not seem to have had a significant<br />
impact from our “adult” point of view-but I’ll bet those kids would disagree!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1473558067519682331.post-60104552887172991712011-02-22T03:24:00.000-08:002011-02-22T03:24:03.354-08:00Kindness is a Verb!Kindness is a verb!<br />
<br />
I recently heard an old friend of mine talking about HOW “love is kind”. He pointed out that it may be helpful to think of it in terms of “verbish-ness” rather than “adjective-ness”; so instead of viewing kindness as an IS (which makes it a somewhat arbitrary or impersonal) -viewing it as a DOES (which gives us ownership-a vested interest). We might re-phrase St. Paul’s description to be something along the lines of “It is in showing kindness to others that I love them.” <br />
What do you all think? What are some ways we can take ownership of kindness and commit it upon the world-one expression at a time?Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401451588372853709noreply@blogger.com0