Sometimes you just sit down and stare at the screen and – nothing. I couldn’t write yesterday. I tried several times but nothing. It was a political hangover of sorts and the fact that I had a funeral later that day. It is always emotional for me to prepare for a funeral. Add to that the non-stop election coverage and I felt even more frustrated with politicians and pundits that either gather in a circular firing squad or who do an end zone spike the football dance.

I want to list the promises of the election so that I can look back in a couple of years. Here we go:

1. Raise taxes on the rich. (Whoever that happens to be)

2. Implement Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare)

3. Protect Medicare

4. Protect Social Security

5. Appoint a Secretary of Business

6. Create One Million Manufacturing Jobs

7. Have Comprehensive Immigration Reform

8. Have Transparency of Government

9. Create a Bi-Partisan Atmosphere

10. (Add a Promise You Heard)

I would look at these promises no matter who was elected and ask if we could really trust them? Here is the real test of leadership in my estimation:

There are a number of states that have voting initiatives to legalize “recreational” use of marijuana. It seems this may be symptomatic of several problems in the country. Medical use has been around for awhile with mixed results. Prohibition didn’t work too well for alcohol and I’m not sure that it is working so well for a drug like marijuana. However, the extreme self-pleasuring of our culture is making us dumb. My dad always said, “Everything in moderation.” I’m not sure he meant the use of mind altering substances. I have looked into the eyes of people who have used for a long time. The results are generally not good. The work force is negatively affected – it is less ambitious, less alert, and less aware when it chooses self-pleasure over the common good. Historically, that is part of what causes cultures to fail and fall.

What do we do? Well the real question is: What do I do? Take responsibility for your health and well being. Take responsibility for you caring about others in such a way that you show what you are made of. Take responsibility for being a positive influence on people around you and your community. There are plenty of people who hate, attack, self-promote, bully, are self-absorbed, gossip, and self-righteously think that they are always right. There are plenty of people who will escape with their drug of choice. Remember – Love Wins. Positivity comes from knowing positively who your Creator is and how much your Creator cares about you.

You can choose to live focusing on negative, ill tempered, self-righteous, self-absorbed people or you can ignore them and be positive with those who are open, willing, and interested in making a difference. Remember Zig Ziglar’s reminder, “Little thinkers are big stinkers.” Not a profound thought but real.

Philippians 4:8 “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

Be Well

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”  Franklin D. Roosevelt
I feel privileged to live in a country like I do and have the chance to vote. There have been times that I’ve had to hold my nose and vote but I voted. If you don’t vote – don’t complain. Vote because you believe in this imperfect human system of governance which remains a light to people all over the world. Vote because you are patriotic. Vote because you want to change things. Vote because you believe in the direction of the country. Vote because your kids expect you to set an example. Vote because you feel it is a duty as a citizen. Vote for the many reasons there are to vote. We have a responsibility to the world. People all over the world look to the United States as an example of freedom. We haven’t always done the right thing but we have always provided the hope of being better.

Tomorrow night or Wednesday morning half of the country may be very upset about the results of the election. Don’t be. You will get up and go to work and you will continue to do your best to make this country great and to make a better life for yourself and for your children. Remember our government depends on local leaders, state leaders, members of the House and Senate, and judges. There is much to do and this is just one moment in time. You have a responsibility to yourself and your loved ones to be the best person you can be. Most of all remember to honor your Creator with your life. The one who cares most about you looks to you and the way you live this life you’ve been given.

I took advantage of the early voting option for the first time. It still feels good. Sometimes if feels a little like standing in front of a very tall mountain or a very large ocean and I ask, “What can my little vote do?” It does matter and it does count. It shows wisdom and insight. So as scripture says,

A fundamental positive approach to life is the ability to reframe and understand what you are going through. We look at the devastation and loss of life that is the result of Hurricane Sandy and it is horrible – there is no other way to view it. However, we either bemoan the experience or we learn from it. Look at the infrastructure of the electric grid, consider the preparedness of the average family, and demand that the future business and governmental response be focused on the well-being of citizens and not just profits or politics. The fundamental question is what do we learn from this?

The same can be said for us in our own life. What do we learn from our experiences? If our action or inaction gives us a result that we do not desire, what new point of view could give us different results? What if we are fired during this economy? What if we take one hundred percent responsibility for the situation we are in? That doesn’t mean we caused the layoff or dismissal but we are responsible NOW. We have to deal with the situation.

There are different feelings that we can experience: this is too hard, this will be a struggle, they are to blame – or my worth is not based on this experience, I am a person of commitment, truth, and action – what can I accomplish now? Many people let circumstances dictate how they feel – our worth and feelings need to be based within.

Many of you have voted already, many more will go to the polls on Tuesday, and you may experience various feelings as a result of the election. Being able to reframe what takes place will be critical for you to deal with the aftermath of the election. How will you respond? What is the best way to navigate the coming years? I’ll write about that in future entries. As Colossians 4:2 says “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  Prayer is not just telling the Creator what you want or need – it is listening for guidance and direction. Take the time for meditation, reflection, and listening. More is accomplished from a state of rest and thought than reaction.

Be Well – and Vote

Sign up for daily text reminders from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer - Visit www.dennymeyer.me  - enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

All Saints Day is today on the Christian calendar. What is a saint? Is it a work you achieve or a title bestowed upon you by the Pope? Is it an honor or a privilege? Paul would sometimes address letters to a house church like this, “All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” (Phil 4:22) The Reformers called the saints, “true believers.” Martin Luther was famously quoted as saying that we are saints and sinners at the same time. Sainthood is a gift, privilege, and a responsibility given to those who embrace life with faith, trust, and hope and share that with the least, the last, and the lost. It is our privilege to remember those who have gone before us and forged the way to make this world a better place. We may have parents, grandparents, great grandparents, sons or daughters, aunts or uncles, friends or colleagues who now rest in the eternal embrace of the ages but who did not think only of themselves but thought of others first.  They thought, “How can we make this a better world for our children and grandchildren? How can we make this better for our neighbors?” They didn’t do it for praise or money but because it was the right thing to do.

So today is a day to remember and to act. No one strives for sainthood. You may have said to someone before, “I’m no saint.” That, my friend, may be the first indication that you are one. When in humility you recognize that you do not earn the title you humbly go about your work – God’s work – and make this a better world for others.

Over fifty lives were lost in the hurricane on the east coast of the US. Yet, dozens of lives are lost daily to gun violence, child abuse, and other acts of violence. I praise those who daily seek to make their neighborhoods safer places to live and I praise those who work to end hunger among the most vulnerable in society. Violence does not just come in the form of a storm. Be bold in your actions saints of God – not to earn a title or crown – but because you can and because it is right. Let your Creator do the honoring.

Be Well

Sign up for daily text reminders from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer - Visit www.dennymeyer.me  - enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

Yesterday I spoke with a Leadership Coach who shared some of her ideas about her work and her vision of helping others. One of the things that struck me was a key part of leadership – vision. Vision that sees beyond the immediate moment and can actually envision how things could be. Let’s apply that to what has just happened to the Jersey Shore and New York. How will you respond? Respond like a leader: 1. Stop, reflect, and count your blessings, 2. Assess your resources and personal emergency response plans, 3. Check your reserves and see if you can help financially. Most people do not have the time or skills to jump in personally and help the folks but you might. If that is you seek ways your skills can be applied. Some people who are unemployed right now and have building skills may soon find work in helping rebuild the coastline. Others may have financial resources to commit to helping people directly. Check with your church, local organizers who are responding, or an organization like the Red Cross. Most importantly pray. Pray for the people not just today but in the weeks ahead. Pray for a spiritual renewal in our country so that our disagreements do not make us disagreeable.  Ephesians 6:18 reminds us, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

One other thing to remind yourself this day – take care of your spiritual well being every day. You may not be dealing with a hurricane or other natural disaster but life can throw you a curve ball at any time unexpectedly. When you are in touch with your Creator on a daily basis you will have the inner resources to be able to respond at time of challenge.

If you want to help those suffering from the hurricane damage, here is one way you can give via a safe/secure link:

https://community.elca.org/page.aspx?pid=784

Be Well

Sign up for daily text reminders from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer - Visit www.dennymeyer.me  - enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) Jerry McGuire said, “Show me the money.” Which is right? I go with Jesus, but we are all tempted to be Jerry McGuire. As many of you wrap up the work week consider the role of money in your life. We make so many decisions based on money rather than what God wants us to do with our life. Don’t chase money for happiness or for safety. It will not make you happy and it will not protect you. Safety comes in the ONE who is your creator. Do what you are called to do with your life. Consider the role of money in your life this weekend. How do you spend, how do you save, how do you give, and how do you invest? Ask for guidance on how you can be the best “steward” of what you have. Trust that you will be guided.

Be Well

Sign up for daily text reminders from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer - Visit www.dennymeyer.me  - enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

Years ago I attended a seminar on time management. Some of the ideas I liked and have used since 1980. Others ideas I simply discarded. Perhaps you’ve heard of these before – I did not invent them. Here were the main ones:

Priorities – Essential’s – Critical’s were 1A – 5A. We were urged not to have too many things on that list because it got to be overwhelming.

Important’s were 1B – 5B. These were things you wanted to get done but were not critical or vital.

1C – 5C came off what was called the “Grass Catcher List.” This was the one I loved. They were things that you wanted to get done but were not critical or even important. They were not things that I procrastinate about but just weren’t that vital to get done today or even this week. They were not the 1A or 1B. I still keep a note card with work grass catcher items and one with personal grass catcher items. As a man I usually live by the truth, “I’ll get to that – you don’t have to remind me every six months!” Jesus said, “…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  I say, “Keep a grass catcher list and look at it any day that you have extra time on your hands. Eventually some of those things on the list may become so unimportant that they just drop off.” Now that is creative procrastination. We make too many things priorities and confuse the vital with the somewhat important. There are things that may be vital that we just don’t like to do – but hey, that’s life – do them first.

I hope you have a worry free weekend – enjoy some sabbath time – find a church where the message, the music, and the community speak to your heart – take time to be in the Word – and think about what is vital, important, and what should just be on your grass catcher list.

Be Well

Sign up for daily text reminders from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer - Visit www.dennymeyer.me  - enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

“What an odd title”, you are thinking as you read today’s SC edition. I was thinking of the title, “Muppets.” A new book was recently released by Greg Smith about the poor treatment of clients by the company. In the book, clients, like teachers retirement funds, were referred to as Muppets. The term refers to people who are dumb and easily manipulated. He claims that people on Wall Street are as unethical as they have ever been and that nothing was learned by the crash of 2008. Is that a surprise? The “greed-is-good” culture is as old as humanity. Jesus once said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

I came across a quote by John Steinbeck who wrote, “It has always seemed strange to me… the things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.” Big money buys elections, ruins lives of small investors, and creates an environment where greed abounds. No wonder we have movements like “Occupy.” The cure is twofold: 1. Faith; 2. Personal responsibility.

Jesus’ advice is the best you can find anywhere. Live your principals but be very wary of the world and what it offers. Gain wisdom even while being skeptical of what the world offers. Investing yourself in what outlasts your life is always the best investment. People matter – relationships matter – the Word matters – these are the things to heavily invest in during your life. Don’t be surprised that Goldman Sachs promotes a culture of greed – this is a fallen world. Yes, we should urge reform. Good for Greg Smith in calling out Goldman Sachs. Remember this is a broken world in need of true human reform. Only our Creator is capable of creating that kind of permanent change of heart, soul, and mind.

Be Well

Sign up for daily text reminders from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer - Visit www.dennymeyer.me  - enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

Spiritual Coaching Vol 2 #181  www.dennymeyer.me

Psalm 84:11

The sun is not yet up as I sit down to write. It’s been rainy and predictably unpredictable weather lately. This is my favorite time of day. All things seem possible – all things seem new. The past is behind me and in this moment my neighborhood is still quiet. This becomes a prayer time and writing time for me. Do you recored your blessings? Do you consider how fortunate you are – even when misfortune comes upon you there are things to give thanks for. Sonrise (my preferred spelling) is a time of day you realize that there is mercy and grace in abundance. I love how Psalm 23:6 puts it, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Even if you read this later in the day I hope you’ll come to realize that you can plan for the future but you can only live moment by moment. The moment is all you truly have. The past is behind you and the future is ephemeral. Take a moment right now – hit the pause button on your life – be quiet – give thanks for a blessing or gift of grace or mercy. Let that thought be you meditation. Just stop right now…..

Now take the time to write, email, phone, or text someone and let them know you appreciate them and how much they mean to you. You will make their day and you will feel the Son shining down even if it is cloudy or dark.

Be Well

Don’t forget to sign up for a daily text reminder from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer or visit www.dennymeyer.me and enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

Recently the Pew Forum on Religion found that, “More than one-quarter of American adults (28%) have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion – or no religion at all. If change in affiliation from one type of Protestantism to another is included, 44% of adults have either switched religious affiliation, moved from being unaffiliated with any religion to being affiliated with a particular faith, or dropped any connection to a specific religious tradition altogether.

The survey finds that the number of people who say they are unaffiliated with any particular faith today (16.1%) is more than double the number who say they were not affiliated with any particular religion as children. Among Americans ages 18-29, one-in-four say they are not currently affiliated with any particular religion.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) Righteousness is the right relationship with God and our fellow men and women -it is not religion. It is also not a state of perfection or holiness. It truly is more a state of humility. Our country’s Founders would cringe at the drift in America abandoning faith for secularism. The abandonment of faith is synonymous with our confusion and division as a country. So I say to you – hunger and thirst after a spiritual relationship because you will not only feel “filled” you will be filled. You will be grounded in the things that Jesus talked about on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5).

Monday is a good day to start the week off right. Let hunger and thirst lead you to the One who created you and loves you with a never-ending love. Then let your cup overflow to others.

Be Well

Don’t forget to sign up for a daily text reminder from Twitter http://twitter.com/dennymeyer or visit www.dennymeyer.me and enter your email for a daily reminder via email.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Ps 18:2

No, this is not about the Vice Presidential Debate from last night. It’s about you concentrating on what makes you happier and healthier. The debate may have informed, amused, or befuddled you. However, it is what you do for you that is key to your happieness. Ninety percent of your happiness is not based on what is going on outside of yourself – it’s based on how you perceive what is going on around you. Most of us believe that if we work harder we will be successful and if we are successful we will be happy. We never reach the horizon. This theory is deeply flawed. The truth is – if you are happy and more positive NOW – in this moment – you will be more successful in your life experiences. You perform much better when you are positive than when you are either negative, neutral, or stressed. When we realize that, we discover how, “The Lord is my rock…”

So today don’t debate the negative – write down the positive, instead:

First, write down one positive thing that has happened to you in the last 24 hours – think about that, give thanks for that experience, and share it with someone.

Second, take a walk, ride your bike, or go to the gym and give your body a chance to meditate while you move. Take a deep breath and give thanks for this simple gift.

Third, perform one random act of kindness toward someone – a positve encouraging email, a phone call of encouragement, or an act of service toward a neighbor, coworker, or schoolmate.

Try this and you will find there is no debate about what it starts to do for your happiness.

Be Well

Please sign up with your email to receive daily notices of Spiritual Coaching updates. Simply enter your email address on the blog     www.dennymeyer.me or sign up for Twitter updates via text at  https://twitter.com/@dennymeyer

Oh and a bit of almost usless trivia. Here is a list of the Vice Presidents:

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

Aaron Burr

George Clinton

Elbridge Gerry

Daniel Tompkins

John C. Calhoun

Martin Van Buren

Richard M. Johnson

John Tyler

George Dallas

Millard Fillmore

William King

John Breckinridge

Hannibal Hamlin

Andrew Johnson

Schuyler Colfax

Henry Wilson

William Wheeler

Chester Arthur

Thomas Hendricks

Levi Morton

Adlai Stevenson

Garret Hobart

Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Fairbanks

James Sherman

Thomas Marshall

Calvin Coolidge

Charles Dawes

Charles Curtis

John Nance Garner

Henry Wallace

Harry Truman

Alben Barkley

Richard Nixon

Lyndon Johnson

Hubert Humphrey

Spiro Agnew

Gerald Ford

Nelson Rockefeller

Walter Mondale

George Bush

Dan Quayle

Al Gore

Dick Cheney

Joe Biden

First let me make a suggestion for those of you who have a “smart phone” or iPhone to make access to the site easier. On your browser type in the site address www.dennymeyer.me select the share button at the bottom of the screen – you should have an option to “Add to Home Screen” or something like that. You can make this site a “Virtual App” by placing it on the desktop. That is my Geek Speak of the day.

Next I want to give a shout out to Nick Otis who shared a very positive talk last night and used a presentation from the TED talks as the focus – along with a passage from Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” His point was about us, as Christians, helping people to see the positive values based contribution we can offer to people. Faith can make life better – simply put. He used a video presentation by Shawn Achor to help drive this point home www.youtube.com/watch?vGXy_kBVq1M

Have a positive outlook in the face of what our daily input is can be challenging but when it is a gift of faith that is regularly nourished it can change your life. Thanks Nick for sharing this and I hope the readers today will find something helpful in this short eleven minute presentation.

Be Well

Billion is a big number – the billionth user just signed up to drink the Facebook Kool Aide (Kool Aide should really be doing well as often as that word is used). Facebook is good for two things: 1. helping friends and acquaintances communicate; 2. extending adolescence. People at times are bullies, immature, and gossips where lies are used as if they were truth. I spoke with several school administrators, teachers, and law enforcement personnel recently and they told me how much time they spend chasing down unfounded accusations and even threats posted on Facebook. Here is a guide (thanks to BizEtiquette www.itsmecassie.com):

1. Message Private Matters Instead Of Posting On Wall

As much as you may have exhibitionistic tendencies and wants everyone to know your most intimate secrets, others may not share the same inclination. Your friends might not take it too kindly when you post what they did last night at your house party, or any other stuff which are understood to be kept between your closest friends.

The fact is that most Facebook Friends will hear about it in such a public platform. The walls indeed have ears, especially so for the Facebook Wall. Best to keep these conversations behind closed doors in Facebook Messaging.

2. Be Mindful Of What You Post

When you have hundreds of friends and acquaintances in Facebook, you have people from all kinds of backgrounds, all with different jobs, beliefs, personalities, etc. Updating your status with a general statement may seem harmless to you, but others may read it in a different light. For example, you make a remark about how advertisers con unsuspecting consumers into buying something they don’t need.

3. Call Rather Than Post Personal News

This isn’t just Facebook etiquette; it’s social etiquette or even common sense. If you need to inform your friends or your family about some important and personal news (e.g. death in the family), don’t declare it out in the public domain. Facebook is a social networking site; it’s supposed to be public. This means that people can know what happened.

The other reason not to post is courtesy. It’s the same reason why you shouldn’t use SMS (or even the phone) to break up with someone. It’s rude and insincere to break important news, be it good or bad ones, without having some form of genuine communication through voice tones and body languages.

4. Reply To Comments Especially If They Are Questions

You post a status, and your friends make comments and ‘like’ it. I guess the least you can do is to acknowledge them by replying something, especially when they are questions directed to you. I’m not saying you should do it for the sake of doing it, but add on to their comments once in awhile. If you ignore them all the time, chances are that they won’t bother about your status anymore, lest they look silly talking to a wall. It’s almost karma.

5. Avoid Posting Comments On Every Post

If you’re stalking your friend, leave it at that. Don’t make it a habit to make some comment on everything your friends post or they’ll start to get suspicious. Even if you say with all honesty that you are not stalking them, it’s not going to be easy for them to believe that their status updates always appear on your newsfeed.

It’s open secret that everyone checks out their friends’ profile every now and then, but to comment on everything is to admit that you are constantly checking out on them. What is even worse is that your friend’s friends might notice as well, seeing that you are a ‘regular’ commenter. If you don’t wish to be labeled a pest, try to limit your comments somewhat.

Bonus: Be Careful Of Your Tone

As with all other online communication, communicating in Facebook is mostly textual. We can neither hear the voice tone nor see the body language when the other person ‘speaks’. In other words, it’s easy for someone to think you are being sarcastic when you are not, or misunderstand you in any other manner for that matter. To complicate things, everyone has their own typing style.

One way we can compensate for the lack of cues is to use emoticons. It’s pretty limited, but experience has taught me that a simple smiley face after a sentence can do wonders by neutralizing any potential tension. Smile and the whole world smiles with you

Five Don’ts:

1. Make Friend Requests To Strangers

Some people have this idea that the number of ‘friends’ you have in Facebook is a status of your popularity in real-life. That may be true if these ‘friends’ are people whom you know offline, and not strangers whom you randomly add while browsing through the Facebook network.

The idea becomes warped when people add friends merely for the sake of boosting their ‘popularity indicator’ among their peers. That’s not cool. But if you wish to add someone for some valid reason, like to get to know this girl you have a crush on, do so with some introduction or through a mutual friend. Skipping that step only leaves a bad impression of you, which is the last thing you want.

2. Tag Your Friends In ‘Unglam’ Shots

Guys may take it lightly when they are tagged in photos that look as if they just woke up from the bed, thinking that it’s a joke pulled off by their friends. When it comes to gals though, appearing ‘unglam’ means a lot more to them. Of course, this applies to some guys as well. What you need to take from this rule is to be sensitive of who you might be tagging in photos, especially those shots which are obviously awfully taken.

3. Overshare Yourself

Checking out the updates on your newsfeed, you see the same friend updating his status over and over again. Not any insightful ones, but just posts about what he’s doing every ten minutes. How exciting. You decide to hide his posts.

Sounds familiar? Probably. It’s annoying because no one is really interested in their friends’ everyday mundane activities, yet it just keeps popping out in their updates. Spice up your status updates a little. Instead of telling your friends you’re in the can taking a leak, share something interesting about yourself.

4. Vent About Your Work

Facebook is a double-edged sword when it comes to its social networking capability. The boon is that it enables us to connect in an unprecedented manner with friends of friends of friends through the identification of mutual friendships. On the other hand, the bane is that there’s easily a way to gather information about you by passing through such layer one-by-one.

Even with your most stringent privacy settings, there’s still a risk that what you post can reach people you wouldn’t want it to reach, and your co-workers and boss are the last people you want to mess with. So, just play safe and leave your venting to somewhere private.

5. Post Chain Status Updates

Remember those chain e-mails that demand you to forward to all of your friends or you’ll die a horrible, horrible death? Well, Facebook has a similar kind of chain, but usually for a good cause. Someone first post a status update about a social cause, encouraging those who read it to post the status too, so that their friends will get to read it and post it as well. This chain thus spread the cause, raising public awareness.

The intention here is right, but sometimes too much of a good thing isn’t good. When you see your newsfeed updates filled with the same status, you get annoyed instead, and you associate your negative emotion to that social cause.

Bonus: Flame Others

Everyone is entitled to state their own opinion on the free internet, so there’s no need to put anyone down just because you disagree (or worse, don’t like the person).  Sometimes I even see people criticizing the comments of their friend’s friend who replied to the post, whom they don’t even know. It’s embarrassing not only to yourself, but to your friend as well.

In the spirit of good conversations, let’s keep this in mind in whatever communication we have online, in Facebook, forums, emails, etc. Don’t ruin it for everyone.

OK – long post but I’m really sick of people using Facebook for immature gossip. They know who they are – oh wait – they don’t because they are immature and only think of themselves and their opinions. By the way this is not about YOU (whoever you are). Remember what the Bible says in Ephesians 4, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace… may (we) be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Be Well

Do the attack commercials bother you? Are you sick of politics knowing the election is still over a month away? Do you sense the deep fissures in our country caused by the deep disconnect we experience with Washington D.C.? How about this – rather than attacks, put downs, and humiliations we do what scripture advises:

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings (presidents, rulers) and all who are in authority.”  1 Timothy 2

Respect is the foundation of a civilized society. That really is the bottom line. Respect downward and upward is required. Prayer is not the slot machine approach of talking to God – where you put a request in a slot and you get the answer you want back or the crane game where you put your money in and get nothing back – it is listening to God and discovering answers in the One. Max Lucado once said, “Would you rather be a cynic than a hypocrite, and so continue to pray with one eye open and wonder… (you see) God’s lights in our dark nights are as numerous as the stars if we’ll only look for them.”

Jesus said, “be not afraid” or “fear not” over fifty times – I’m going to take him at his word and instead pray, give thanks, and listen. It is in this approach that we will find answers to the toughest questions of life.

Be Well

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze. Is. 43:2-3

Stay calm and carry on is more than popular British advice. Confidence and the ability to stay “cool” is an interesting behavior. There are many things that can shake a person’s confidence. It can be shaken from within and from without. There is the rub – do we live a more outside-in life or inside-out life? What I mean to say is, do you allow people, events, and circumstances affect and direct you or are you guided from knowledge and truth from within? Some people see living inside-out as cool, dispassionate, and arrogant. I believe that those who prefer to live outside-in are shaped by their circumstances, frustrated, and filled with self doubt or false bravado. Living inside-out does not mean you must shut off all critique. You should listen, assess, and evaluate from an inner core and conviction and in a passionate but civil way move forward in life.

While other’s lives may be chaotic and fractured by events and dissapointments you remain steady and trusting in the One who dwells within and who in Spirit speaks to your spirit and says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

Be Well

http://www.dennymeyer.me

John 1:4 ^3-5 Everything was created through him;

http://www.dennymeyer.me

Tony Compolo is one of my favorite speakers, authors, and spiritual coaches. Tony has energized me to think creatively more than once. If you can pick up one of his books, lectures, sermons, or blogs – do it. One of his books with the title of this blog reminds me that as Sunday draws to a close I’m already thinking about what the messages for the week will be on my blog, the classes I teach mid-week (podcast at www.blc24seven.com), and the teaching for next Sunday. Our weeks often unfold at a rapid pace. Life long learning is a privilege that we should all take advantage of daily. Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” It is our disadvantage if we overlook one of the great free self improvement activities available to us – learning. Wisdom is so valuable and in this “Age of Information” it has become even more precious – even more than the price of oil, gold, or gems. Henry Ford was quick to point out to a business associate, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young” – and who doesn’t want to feel young?

Make it a point to learn something each day this week.

Be Well

We’ve got to learn to adapt and realize technology is not our savior. Technology has not made our world that much easier. It has made fewer people do more work and work more hours. Is that so great? Maybe as the weekend approaches, and you still have work to do, housework, yardwork, or a second job, you will long for what God promises,

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters (Psalm 23)

We need to find space to let God renew us. The great pitcher Nolan Ryan once said, “Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.” Find those spaces in your weekend for the green pastures and still waters so that you will be refreshed and ready to adapt. We have to seek out a time of Sabbath whenever we can find it – it was made for us to help us adapt.

Be Well

http://www.dennymeyer.me

There is a great video clip at History.com about an open Bible at “Ground Zero.” It speaks to the power of the world vis-a-vis the power of God’s Word. Worth watching.

http://www.history.com/videos/remnants-of-911-open-bible#remnants-of-911-open-bible

1 Corinthians 3:19 puts it this way, “The wisdom of this world is foolish to God.” Parent over child, husband over wife, employer over employee, politician over the represented – the list could go on about how power could be abused. It all boils down to, “I will get what I want even if I have to take it from you.” God says that the economy of the “Kingdom” is different. The one with power – serves. In the midst of a world in upheaval and a government that seems in disarray putting into practice Kingdom principals is even more critical.

What if we asked each other, “How can I serve you?” It would change the dynamic of lots of relationships. Rather than fearing losing power – power may shift in new ways and relationships. In one hundred years will it matter what your title is? On the other hand will it matter Who’s you are? World history tells us that kingdoms but we are citizens of God’s Kingdom and that changes literally everything.

Be Well

Where I went to college we had chapel service every day except Saturday. Although my first year was filled with lethargy for all things spiritual as time went on I found chapel to bring a cadence to my week and my life. It was not mandatory but for me it became a very good habit. At times I miss that. Each day had a kind of rhythm and pace with the theme of the day: Monday – the beginning of creation, Jesus birth, or the immanence of God; Tuesday – the beginning of Jesus ministry and the call of the apostles; Wednesday – the midst of Jesus ministry, teaching, healing, forgiving; Thursday – the Lord’s Supper, betrayal, the trial; Friday – the power and sacrifice of the cross; Saturday – a day off but a reminder of the day in the tomb (also a day off from chapel); Sunday – the day of resurrection. It’s not a bad way to live a life with these thoughts and this pace to your life.

So here we are on a Wednesday – the middle of things – the middle of the week – the middle of ministry and learning and teaching. The middle is often a comfortable spot. We are wiser than youth but not so long in the tooth that we cannot experience the adventures of life. So no matter what your age enjoy the middle. It’s not a bad place to be – so… “ Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8 CEV)

Be Well

http://www.dennymeyer.me

We were sitting around a table having breakfast and studying a Bible passage when John Pappas, the host at B & J American Cafe, walked in and said to us, “There has been a terrible accident, a plan flew into the World Trade Center.” We stopped and immediately prayed for everyone there thinking this was some terrible accident. It was a clear beautiful September day, much like it must have been in New York City. My thoughts, even during the prayer, drifted to a terrorist attack years earlier when a bomb went off in the parking garage of the Center. Then I thought about my brother and where he might be in Manhattan.

Soon after I drove back to church and the staff had not heard about what I thought was an accident so we turned on the television and watched the Today Show narrate the unfolding tragedy. It was an horrific day – and most Americans remember where they were and what they were doing. It seemed in some ways like the day I heard the President Kennedy had been shot. The shock seared the moment into my memory and the collective memory of our country.

Today we put aside bickering and bitterness and remember. We put “us” back into U.S. We are a people who stand united in thought and prayer for the families who lost so much, the families of soldiers who have paid the ultimate price or given up limbs and mental health, and we pray for ourselves that our hearts will not be hardened toward other cultures and races. We pray with St Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Feel free to share your story of that day with me or someone else as you remember the days that united our country so thoroughly in prayer and purpose. 

Be Well

We think our reality dictates our dreams. But I would suggest to you that often your reality is shaped powerfully by your dreams. We sometimes fear to live out our dreams but if we dare to dream them and let our dreams take flight who knows where they might take us. I once thought the time of dreaming was over as I became a responsible adult. I was wrong. It is all the more important to dream and to pass your dreams on to others. Mondays have been dreaded as long as workers have worked. Alarm clocks are a vice of the post industrial age – set an opportunity clock and wake to the dawn of dreams. Let the dreams of the night give way to dreams that take flight in the light of day.

Be Well

http://www.dennymeyer.me

During college I was a history major. My specialty was the Civil War. In my humble opinion, as a student of history and having lived in this country long enough to watch presidential races come and go, this is the most contentious, divided, negative period that I can remember in my lifetime. Our nation seems to be deeply divided. There is a new twist that I just read about. This Sunday, more than 400 pastors will be using their pulpits to preach politics and challenge the Internal Revenue Service’s regulations that restrict religious leaders from endorsing candidates and discussing policies with their congregations. Then on Oct. 2 Pulpit Freedom Sunday will be celebrated, and this year Alliance Defense Fund and its supporters have quadrupled its participation from last year. Last year, 100 pastors committed to the event, but this year, registration lists are exploding, with 475 pastors who will participate in the event. On Pulpit Freedom Day, registered pastors are encouraged to videotape themselves speaking to their congregations about the Scripture, politics and political candidates, and mail those videos to the IRS. ADF then stands ready to evaluate IRS complaints and legally represent those churches or ministries whose 501(c)(3) nontaxable status has been threatened in court.

I fundamentally disagree with this movement. We have freedom as individuals to believe and express ourselves politically but to use the pulpits of America to sway voters is beyond the pale in my book. We have a sacred trust that is based in Scripture. Jesus himself said, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17) We are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom and everything we are, or hope to be, belongs to God. It was kind of a disguised statement by Jesus. God is the owner of it all. We didn’t make it, when it comes to creation. Politics aside, we have many things in common as Americans and I want our country to be united even with a diversity of opinions. The pulpit remains off-limits to me when it comes to political views.

Every election is pointed to as, “the most important election in our lifetime.” As a person of faith I’m not worried, no matter who is elected because I trust God. Almost every election I find myself disagreeing with candidates from all the parties. No one man can represent all the people of this country. There is only one Man who fully represents me and that is Jesus – the Christ; and with Jesus all politics IS local.

Worry and division is the greatest enemy of a state, a church, and a family. Jesus also said,  “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:20) Abraham Lincoln famously quoted this passage during the Civil War. We have a responsibility to make our discourse, conversation, and debate – CIVIL. Discuss your points, enjoin the conversation, debate your differences, but remember that if you follow the One who is Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer you are a part of a New Kingdom with a relationship not a bunch of rules. My favorite poet, Wendell Berry wrote, ”Protest that endures…is moved by a hope far more modest than that of public success: namely, the hope of preserving qualities in one’s own heart and spirit that would be destroyed by acquiescence.”

Be Well