The first mixtape type thing I have fallen in love with! Stumbled across it from PENS, a band I will feature soon but it’s crammed with tiny snippets of awesome. Let’s try some of that comedic surreal stuff the Boosh pad out drivel with… It’s like ejaculating tiny hermit crabs into a shredder being thrown at a snare drum.

The relentless (one picture and 8 seconds) assault on Noel Edmonds is more than enough anyway.

A friend of mine bought his girlfriend a birthday present over two months ago. The present was to be a completed paint by numbers picture. Unfortunately, she has yet to receive the completed painting. Last I checked, the painting was about 25% done and the man swears his girlfriend will get the completed gift by Christmas. We’ll three months late is better than never. In all seriousness, aren’t there times in our lives when even the most straight forward projects get placed by the wayside in favor of the day-to-day tasks vying for our attention?

Along the lines of waiting for “things” – I myself have recently experienced a few delayed starts. For example, I recently bought a new computer bag which had to be immediately returned due to a malfunctioning handle. Cutting to the end of the story, I ended up saving an addition sum of money on an already discounted bag because the bag was reduced an additional 10% between the first and second purchase dates. Similarly, I finally decided to buy an external hard drive to back-up computer files, etc. but when a friend braved the “black Friday” crowds to purchase one for me, he was told they were out. Upon his return home (around 5:30am black Friday) he went on line and found one for less money and with a better warranty.

As we near the end of 2009 it’s true, some of us have not obtained all that we would have liked this year. For some (like my friend’s girlfriend) it’s a gift. For others it’s a need such as a new job to replace the one lost due to the economic downturn. Yet for others, it’s something in between a gift and a need; such as a new computer bag. So what’s to be made of all this? What can we deduce when we did all we could to paint inside the lines but despite our efforts, did not get the result we wanted? Conversely, what if we took a chance to paint outside the lines, taking a risk and trying something new, but still failed to obtain the goal?

Well, as best as I can see, good things do truly come to those that wait. Economies have life cycles to them, change has its seasons, and the race is not always won by the swift. So what’s this mean for us all? I’m going to go out on a limb and say that our good things are coming, we’ll pay less for them, and they will be what we should have when we should have them. To that end, I’m happy to announce that I’m going to extend my discounted life coaching offer through the end of 2009. While I can not predict when the economy will be in full swing again or when your new computer bag will arrive, I can safely say that by taking the time now to ensure you maximize your skills and talents, you’ll be well positioned to fill it with life’s blessings.

To learn more about this topic contact Dr Marilyn at www.DrMarilyn-EAW.com

We are here to elevate you into a new understanding
to elevate your mind and conscious awareness
so that you might receive constant guidance from source in a clear manner
we are here to lead you away from the confusion
the conditioned darkness you have wandered in
and into a new way of being a new light to illuminate all problems
to bring forth goodness and love in a vibrant manner
so that all who come into your presence will be moved and touched by your healing power
this is the calling this is the life you can lead now
and this is the love you are here to be
thankfully, you are on the path to enlightenment because you have decided by your own desire this is what you want
this is where you are headed and this is the path that we continuously guide you toward for the benefit of all concerned
know that there is nothing that can separate you from the love of source
from the love of God from the love of who you are
because it is part of you
you are an extension indeed
but even more importantly you are filled with this love
it is simply a matter of letting go of resistance and giving into this love that fills you now
know that source is always present equally throughout your body throughout your mind throughout your circumstances throughout the universe
there is no lack of source no lack of love no lack of the presence and power of God anywhere
for as you know source is all present all power all knowledge and all love
there can be no lack of source anywhere
take responsibility for any shortage of what you want in life and figure out how to let go of your resistance your blocks
your uncertainty
figure out how to allow source to move freely through you so that you can fulfil that heart’s desire

know that no good thing will be kept from you
you must undue the conditioning undue the limits
you have put upon yourself
you must cleanse your mind and allow source to fill it with possibility potential love and hope
you must allow source to show you the truth apart from the illusion and insanity of modern-day thinking
let it go and allow source to elevate your consciousness to a new way of being a new way of allowing and a new way of thinking
let source fill your mind with beauty and passion let your mind be free to dream to love to endure with grace and gratitude
that all is well in this moment
and is always so
be sure to remember that now has everything you need
now has all the beauty joy and love you desire
if you would but allow it to come through
allow now

- Morning stream of consciousness writing from John Stringer

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Grant me to understand Your will and to remember with great reverence and due regard Your benefits, both those granted to all men and those especially given me, so that I may worthily offer You my thanks.

Whatever we have in body and in soul and whatever inward or outward, natural or supernatural qualities we possess, all are Your benefits. Each and every one of them proclaims that You, from whom we have received everything, are generous, good, and loving.

~ Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me,
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD,

Forever.

A few nights ago, during a telephone conversation, a friend in his twenties shared, “You’re telling me I’m good enough just the way I am? That’s hard for me to believe. How come we never hear that message?”
I am sad. His words ring true.
I encouraged, “You are good enough. Just like this, right now. You are, and I am. We all are. No matter the circumstance. Certainly we can always be better, and there is value in striving for more. But, today, right now, you are good, enough.”

His words and my response  wrestle in me during this week of thanksgiving. I ponder, “what is good, enough?”

Then I remember “Wild Geese” a favorite Mary Oliver poem  found in Dream Works (1994). I dare you to toss her words into your heart. Give thanks.

Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
–Mary Oliver

Giving Thanks …
I gaze into my own heart, notice the specific people in my life, and the increasing thirst in the world for healing and hope.  I am grateful, for my life and yours, for breath and  life, no matter how abundant or fragmented.
It is time to announce our place in the world, invite others in out of the cold to break bread, gather at our table. There is enough when we share with love. Let us love what we love, and love one another with welcoming presence. We all belong. This starting place is good, enough.

Who will you invite in out of the cold to join you at table?
What lives in your heart of thanksgiving?

If you believe in Creation – you have been created with the ability to bear fruit.  You have been created with the ability for more.  Birds were created to make more birds.  Whales were created to make more whales.  Apple trees were created to make more apple trees.  Pretty much, I can keep going and list every single thing and it has the potential for creating more or creating something.

Man and woman were created to procreate, but men and women were also created with the ability to create as well – maybe not to create out of nothing – but definitely the ability to create from things already created.  You and I have the capability and ability to create and even enjoy creation.  You and I have been created to create – art, music, ideas, and so many other things.  You can do things with rocks, paint, twigs, logs, sticks, and whatever you can get your hands on to create.

In Genesis 1 and 2, everything was created and it was all considered good.  There’s nothing in the creation story that says that it became bad.  There was a relationship in the creation story (chap 3) that ends in emnity between God and man, but there wasn’t anything in the story that says that creation has become bad.  Tell me if I’m wrong, but it is still good.  Your experience of creation is good.  The whole earth is filled with his glory.  The rocks cry out in worship.  The heavens declare the glory of God.

You have been created to create, and you need to do so with the goodness of all that is created.  Hang out in the goodness of creation.

There

Montreal, QC, Canada

Ready for a story that will warm the little cockles of your heart?  I’m talking about a Cinderella story that happens in the movies, and only then infrequently.

Well, listen up, I’ll make it quick and simple.

I’ve been traveling over the past week with Andrew Appleyard.  He represents Exodus travel- another company that offers adventure tours- and we’ve done consumer shows in several cities.  The way these things work is we all turn up at a venue and do talks to the public.  Sometimes we get 200 people.  I talk about Peru, Allison from Peregrine about Nepal and Andrew about Syria and Jordon.

The above is irrelevant, the point is that throughout these presentations, Andrew collects money for a project Exodus support. (http://www.exodus.co.uk/responsible-travel/our-projects/peru-rainbow-centre).  It’s a good cause.

Canadians cough up money hand over fist (save that for the next blog).  The point is that Andrew collected, from 5 cities, $2600 cash.  He kept this in a clear envelope, in cash, wherever he went.

One night after completing a talk in Montreal Andrew and his colleague Chris were in a cab to his hotel.  When he went to pay, the driver informed Andrew that he couldn’t accept credit card. Chris was furious and he berated the driver.  Andrew grudgingly took some cash from the donations (which he claims he would pay back).

In doing so, the envelope with $2,600 fell under the seat.  None the wiser, Andrew exited the cab.

$2,600, now in the care of an anonymous taxi driver who careened into the Montreal night.

If I could take a poll I would now.  What would you do?  I mean, really.  Factor in what we know about this person, that he drives a cab for a living in Montreal and likely emigrated here from some financially depressed country.

Andrew was frantic that night.  He called the venue.  He called the event organizer.   He called the cab company.  He slept for an hour. He looked like shit the next day.

Fast forward to the evening.  We’re having a drink at Trois Brassardes and the cab company calls.  They leave a message: a driver has something for Andrew.

Sure enough, when Andrew calls back, there is a driver and he will meet us at the restaurant.  And there, 10 minutes later the taxi pulls up.  The driver doesn’t have the money in his cab- it’s at his home and he insists Andrew accompany him to pick it up.

Here’s the Cinderella part.  He’s an African, originally from the Comoros Islands but had moved to Kenya.  There he befriended some Canadians and made his way to Canada.  He struggled, this cab is how he eked by on a meager salary.   His apartment was 500 square feet.  His wife had recently left him.  He had so little, his Muslim practice and his cab, that’s it.  He was too humble to allow me to take a photo of him for this blog.

And it’s this man who returned a transparent envelope brimming with cash.

Sometimes travel has this ability to make you feel small, to help you recognize that your privileged life and your concerns are in reality greed in disguise.  It is true that most of the world is poor, and it is equally true that despite what we’re told many of these people lead honest, and happy lives.

What a world: this meagre Kenyan taxi driver can’t fathom pocketing a dime, while bankers feed themselves six digit bonuses on public money.

Since this is a hectic time of the year I will make this blog post really short.

It is a holiday tradition to thank God for the blessings we have received in life. But what is the greatest blessing of all? Health? Family? Employment? A 20-pound turkey on the table?

The most important thing to pray for during this time of reflection and giving thanks is goodness. Goodness is to enjoy the harvest of a loving heart.

God’s Holy Word is not naïve to the realities, challenges and conflicts that the terrestrial world brings our way. That is why Scripture states “be wise as a serpent but innocent as a dove.” In other words, we should be fully aware of the ways of the world and not be taken advantage of. Yet we must also be on guard not to harbor any ill will towards others.

Even during trying times, what can we possibly possess that would trump goodness?

Happy Holidays, everyone!

http://www.staircasepress.com

“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” Galatians 6:10 NLT

Once upon a time there lived a young man named Larry. He was like most people who wished that human beings would treat each other better in the world. But he was also different from most people in that he began to notice negative and ignoble inclinations within his own life.

This observation was both painful and perplexing. Larry had a hard time grasping why he was so vulnerable to bouts of bad behavior, especially when he knew better. He read about science, philosophy and even religion, but somehow his intelligence failed him. How could this be?

Larry became so concerned about this strange predicament that it finally made him sick. He could not endure one more failed relationship with friends, office workers or those he dated. So he stayed in bed all day, immobilized and feeling hopeless that his life would ever change. He even closed the curtains in his room. He could no longer handle any kind of influence coming from the outside world and wanted to shut it all out.

While lying motionless in bed, he became aware that his room was suddenly flooded by light—a light that also brought comforting and loving warmth with it. He lifted his head from the pillow and was amazed to see a beautiful angel in his room. The angel was the source of this light and warmth.

“Why are you here?” asked Larry in astonishment.

“The Lord God has sent me to show you why your education can’t help you with the things that really matter in life,” answered the caring and loving angel.

“I must be going loony,” said Larry reacting to the seeing and hearing of this illusionary creature—an obvious outcome of his tortured mind.

“Yes,” said the angel. “You are a lunatic but not because you see me or hear me. You are a lunatic because of the pathological way you treat valuable knowledge and information.”

“I have tried to use knowledge to better my life”’ said Larry.

“The purpose of knowledge and study is to find truth. The purpose of truth is to find love and goodness,” said the angel. “If your knowledge does not lead you to love and sincere helpfulness, then your knowledge is simply hovering around outside of you.”

“What do you mean? If knowledge is in my head then it must be inside me,” came Larry’s defense.

“Not so! Do you know where the term lunatic came from?” asked the creature sent from heaven.

“I suspect that it has its origins from the fact that people act weird during times of the full moon,” said Larry.

“The answer goes much deeper than that,” came the angel. “It involves some symbolism.”

“What kind of symbolism?’

“Pretend that the planet earth represents your individual life. The moon would then represent your cognitive memory,” explained the angel. “One’s memory is a mere satellite encircling one’s true being. In the same way that the moon reflects the sun’s light, a person’s memory lets us reflect on various ideas. But these ideas, no matter how profound, remain outside of our true inner being if they do not affect our hearts. A lunatic is one who listens to sermons, reads about God’s commandments or the Golden rule but keeps these ideas at a distance so that he or she does not have to face their own inner contradictions”

“Why do we humans do such things?” asked Larry.

“Because truth can be painful,” returned the beautiful angel. “Humans go to great lengths in order to nullify this pain, like using alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, money, power, celebrity and constantly fanaticizing about their own imagined self-importance. All such people have a basic knowledge and understand what it is to be good. But they keep this knowledge at a safe distance where it can be merely reflected upon and used for the purposes of deceit, cunning or self-gain rather than for personal transformation. Now you know why the world seems to be going crazy. It is full of lunatics—who see themselves as ordinary people.”

Larry was shocked to hear this but could resonate with the angel’s strong words. From that point on Larry made an oath to “clean house.” He was no longer fearful of finding what he kept hidden in the dark corners of his life.

http://www.staircasepress.com

I was watching Jay Leno last week, which I normally wouldn’t do since I’m a Letterman gal (no, not that gal) but I saw a preview that day that said Sandra Bullock would be on Leno, so I was SOLD! I love her to John Cusak proportions. I could watch her all day. Anyways, I’ll save my gushing for another time. This post is mostly about Walton’s Fancy and Staple in Austin, Texas, not my girl crush on Ms. Bullock.

I’m not much of a traveler. There is a very short list of places I would like to travel to. The list goes like this: Savannah, GA anytime…and Ireland, in this lifetime. That’s it. But I’m happy to share with you a new addition to the list! Austin, Texas…specifically Walton’s Fancy and Staple. You’re probably wondering what in tarnation that has to do with Sandra Bullock. Well, while I was watching her on Leno I learned she has a bakery! She brought enough of her Aunt Luddy’s White Trash treat for the whole audience (because she is that awesome). After some creative googling I found Walton’s Staple and Fancy among many posts resembling recycled press releases. Long story short, Ms. Bullock and her sister, Gesine Prado, opened the fab deli-bistro-floral-catering piece of heaven in honor of their mother. (add another reason to the list of why I love Sandra) I’ve borrowed some images from the web site, they all link to the site so go check it out:

I’m really looking forward to seeing Sandra’s new movie The Blind Side! Hopefully I’ll get to see it this weekend.

[images from Walton's Fancy and Staple]

]]> http://pastorrodakins.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/giving-thanks-is-important/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:25:19 +0000 KBMMG http://pastorrodakins.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/giving-thanks-is-important/

We have much to be thankful for.

No matter how some people try to re-write our history, the United States began with clear acknowledgment of God and expressions of dependence on Him. It is time to restore a heart of praise and thanksgiving to God.

In 1789, George Washington made a public proclamation for Thanksgiving. Here are some of his words: “By the President of the United States of America, A proclamation: Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor . . .”

“And whereas, both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God . . . “

“Now, therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26^th day of November next, to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will.” So read the very first Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation!

Of course most people know the story of the pilgrims and how they and the Native Indians of the area had a Thanksgiving feast in 1621—long before Washington’s proclamation. Even earlier than 1621—we find people offering up thanks to God. In the Old Testament the people of Israel sing a Psalm of Thanksgiving:

Psalm 100 has a very unique title. Where most Psalms tell who wrote it, this one simply states:

A Psalm for Thanksgiving. (Reflect on each word and put this Psalm into practice)

This Psalm has Five commands:

1. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
2. Serve the Lord with gladness;
3. Come before Him with joyful singing.
4. Know

• that the Lord Himself is God;
• It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
• We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

5. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

It gives Three Reasons for Thanksgiving:

1. For the Lord is good;
2. His lovingkindness is everlasting
3. And His faithfulness to all generations.

Our thanksgiving and praise is not based on our circumstances, but on our Lord! We can have joy as we come into His presence as Psalm 16:11 states: “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” No matter what you’re going through, “in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:18). We are also warned that the wicked “even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks” (Romans 1:21).

I want to encourage you to focus your mind on the Lord and tell Him, “Thank You!” Counting your blessings is a great way to gain a proper perspective. We celebrate Thanksgiving once a year, but we should all try to make it a daily practice. I thank God for you, whoever is reading this now and I pray that you will know God personally and experience His love and forgiveness.

O.K., O.K. – enough already! All right, it’s really time to achieve that life goal already… Sound familiar? Have you hit that place, have you entered that season of life, or have you simply gotten fed up with being fed up? Goals, daily to-do-lists, action items, the list goes on and on. Sometimes, rather than rush in, we have to stop and take a moment to breath, a moment to prioritize our to-do-lists. Often this process is called “slowing down to be quicker”.

Years ago when I was a police cadet our range master explained the concept of slowing down to be quicker. Now while I don’t anticipate having to focus on shooting a felon in the commission of a crime any longer (given I’m no longer a police officer), the range master’s words have stuck with me over the years. In short, the concept reminds us to slow down (i.e., don’t get caught-up in emotions or adrenalin) when there is work to be done. As we know, often when we rush through a task for whatever reasons, we run the risk of creating a less than optimal outcome. That “less than” outcome then leads to a need to redo the work which causes the task to take longer than it would have had we slowed down and done it right to begin with. As you can imagine, law enforcement work does not lend itself to “do overs” when lives are at stake.

While the majority of our work does not result in life ending outcomes, there are times when the work choices we make alter our lives or the lives of others for better or worse. If you are finding yourself in a conundrum regarding your current workplace choices, now may be the time to slow down to be quicker. Every day we impact the lives of those around us; in positive or negative ways, but never with total neutrality. It’s often been said that those around us either bring us up or bring us down. As you make your workplace choices each day you’ll want to ensure that you have solid counsel around you. People who have your best interest at heart and who do not possess ulterior motives regarding your success. For a free 30-minute introductory consultation on slowing down to be quicker contact Dr. Marilyn at info@DrMarilyn-EAW.com or 01-408-340-0561.

To learn more about this topic contact Dr Marilyn at www.DrMarilyn-EAW.com

Ephesians 5:18-20 says,  ”And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I have a question for you today.  Do you have a singing heart of a sad heart?  Do you feel like you’re living in a prison or a palace?  Well today, I’m going to give you a secret that is going to change your life forever.  Put it down big.  Put it down plain.  And put it down straight.  The grace of gratitude is going to change your life.

Do you know where Paul was when he wrote Ephesians?  Prison!  He was in prison – singing and making melody in his heart to the Lord.  He couldn’t help but sing, my friend.  His prison had become a palace because he knew, “that all things work together to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).  He experienced the grace of God. 

You see friends, there are two classes of people in this world, those who take things for granted, and those who take things with gratitude.  The word grace and the word gratitude come from the same root word in the English language.  You see, people who are grateful people have experienced the grace of God.  And they’re thankful – not just during the blessing of life, but during the bleakness of life.

1) We Need to Learn to Thank God for the Simple Things.
I cannot tell you how many times, while counseling with someone, say something like… “Pastor, you don’t know my circumstances.  I have nothing to be thankful for.”  You know what?  You’re absolutely right.  I don’t know your circumstances.  But let me share what I do know.  If you’re talking, you have a voice.  If you’re listening, you have ears.  If you’re reading, you have eyes.  My friends, without sounding too simplistic, you have life.  And better than that, if you are a child of God, you have eternal life!  You can claim the name of Jesus as forgiveness of all your sins!  You can claim victory over your problems in Jesus name.

Have you ever thought to be thankful for a glass of water?  The nation of India is the second most populated nation on the face of the earth, and yet 75% of the water in India is not fit to drink.  I dare say most of us rarely lift a prayer in thanksgiving for a glass of water.  But there are a lot of people in third world countries who are ravaged with disease who would love to have a clear glass of drinking water.  We need to thank God for the simple things in life.

2)  Also We Need To Thank Him For The Spiritual Things.
You may think that what I’m going to ask of you is impossible.  You’re right.  Paul prefaces his plea by telling us to “be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

Why did Paul tell us to be filled with the Holy Spirit?  Because, he knew that giving thanks in all things at all times is not natural.  It goes against our nature.  The grace of gratitude is supernatural.

The Holy Spirit is the substance of it.  He is the source of it.  He is the strength of it.  How can you experience the Holy Spirit’s power to be thankful?  First ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior.  No one can be filled with the Spirit and expect to do supernatural things without Christ.  An unsaved man cannot practice what Ephesians 5:20 teaches.

When you ask Jesus to be Lord of your life and submit to His leadership, you’re going to have a joy unspeakable.  A joy that bubbles forth in the midst of sadness.  A peace that envelops you when trials abound.  You will make melody in your heart because you will be in the Spirit, through the Son, to the Father, saying thank you for all He has done.  Always, in all things, every day saying, “Thank you Jesus.  I love you.

If you want to experience the grace of gratitude, you must learn to thank God for the simple things.  You need to learn to thank Him for spiritual things.  And you must lastly learn to:

3) Thank God for the Sorrowful Things.
The Bible commands us to give thanks in all things.  “Now wait a minute, Pastor.  I’m supposed to thank Him for cancer, divorce, child abuse, and war?  No.  These things are bad and God has set Himself against these things.  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”  You see, we are to have an attitude that focuses not on our circumstances, but on our Savior – thanking God that He is in control and is working all things for our good.

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, wrote something that reminded me of a documentary that I saw on PBS some time ago.  The docudrama began in a cancer center where the producers had obtained permission to place cameras in one of the clinics consultation rooms.  Then, with the permission of two or three patients they captured on film the moment each of them learned they were afflicted with a malignancy in its later stages.  Their initial shock, disbelief, fear, and anger were recorded in graphic detail.  Afterwards, the cameras followed the people through the treatment process with all of its ups and downs, hopes and disappointments, pain and terror.

I’m so thankful to Dr. Dobson for reminding me of one particular man, because he is really a model of the type of man of God I would like to be.

He was a humble black pastor of a small inner-city Baptist church.  He was in his late sixties and had been a minister throughout his adult life.  His love for the Lord was so profound that it was reflected in everything he said.  When he and his wife were told he had only a few months to live, they revealed no panic.  They quietly asked the doctor what it all meant.  When he had explained the treatment program and what they could anticipate, they politely thanked him for his concern and left.  The cameras followed this little couple to their old car and eavesdropped as they bowed their heads and recommitted themselves to the Lord.

In the months that followed, the pastor never lost his poise.  He was talkative about his illness.  He knew the Lord was in control, and he refused to be shaken in his faith.

The cameras were present on his final Sunday in his church.  He actually preached the sermon that morning and talked openly about his impending death.  To the best of my recollection, this is what he said:

“Some of you have asked me if I’m mad at God for this disease that has taken over my body.  I’ll tell you honestly that I have nothing but love in my heart for my Lord.  He didn’t do this to me.  We live in a sinful world where sickness and death are the curse that man has brought upon himself.  And I’m going to a better place where there will be no more tears, no suffering, and no heartache.  So don’t you feel badly for me.

“Beside,” he continued, “our Lord suffered and died for our sins.  Why should I not share in his sufferings?”  Then he began to sing, without accompaniment, in an old, broken voice, “I sing because I’m happy.  I sing because I’m free.  His eye is on the sparrow.  And I know, He watches me.”

I remember that I could feel a lump in my throat, and tears swell-up in my eyes as this gentle man sang of his love for Jesus.  His voice was weak, but his comments were as powerful as any I’ve ever heard.  His words that morning were the last that he would ever speak from his pulpit.  A few days later, he slipped into eternity to meet the Lord he had served for a lifetime.

My dear friends, do you want to live on the highest level of life?  Cultivate the grace of gratitude.  No matter how dark or mysterious your future may look.  Thank Him.  Don’t wait until you feel like it.  Thank Him by faith – believing that He is in control.  That He is good.  Take God’s hand in the dark.  He will lead you into His marvelous light of love.

Well, this afternoon I watched TV. Suddendly i heard a good statement from man on the TV show :

“I’m a good man….. Good husband, good father, good son, i’m a good brother”

wow, what a statement.

Nowadays, very difficult to be a perfect man like above mentioned. Sometimes, when a man doing good as a filial son to his parents, he probably can not be a good husband to his wife. It is very difficult to be balance to all parties as a person. We are son/daugther of our parents, wive/husband to our soulmate, parents to our children, brother/sister to our family member.

But however, as long as we sincerely doing good things in our life, it will be good for everyone around us peace