Others

In the Church you will find as many stories as there are people. As many people you will find, you will discover relationships. Unless, of course you are one of those narrow minded, self centered "Christians". The fact that we go to church every Sunday is for several reasons. First, to worship God. Then in this order, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and then Evangelism. Did you notice the list of importance? Yes, God is FIRST! However, 4 of the 5 are about others. A sobering question that needs to be asked of ANY Christ following church every 3 months is, "when do we notice the "others". You know, those ones that are not in our inner circle. LOL, yep that includes the local church. The fact of the matter is this. The song "I just need Jesus" is a false doctrine that is taught in introverted Churches. Jesus not only loves people, he needs people. Not in the "needy" since, but in the since that He wants to involve us in His plan of helping others, through compassion and hands on love. Everyone has a story, and every story is unique and God wants us to hear it. Why?, well to quote a college history professor I had, "History is "His Story". Just a thought.....

sleep

As I set here at a desk in the baptist sleep clinic I have just concluded a sleep study done on me. With wires attached to my head, chest and legs and a "c-pap" (breathing instrument) machine around my head, I'm sure I looked like a cheap stunt double from a star wars movie! I feel really good this morning. Why? Because I slept! That c-pap gave me the proper air flow that my brain needed to get the sleep that my body needed. What stinks is I could avoid all this trouble by loosing about 30 pounds - but heaven knows that "aint no fun!" So I will leave here today and go get a new c-pap machine and starting tonight I will get some very sound sleep (minus the wires). Thus, bringing more peace in the bedroom at the wood house. Thus, making my wife happier, thus feeling a whole lot better. Yep, no more bed bugs for me! Just some good sleep as I dream about what I need to dream about. Just a thought.....

Sister blabsitall and the piano

There is an old story about a pastor who had just took a church that had not seen productive change in 43 years. After about 3 months of successful ministry he thought he would make some changes, only to be met with some up hill challenges. They didn't like the new paper towels in the kitchen. They didn't like the fact that he parked his car behind the church and not in the "pastors Parking". They didn't like the fact that he removed the "pastors parking" sign. And then the one that just about "quenched the spirit", you ready for this shocker?!.......... He moved the piano!!!!!!!!! Oh the shock!!! Oh the horror!!!! The piano player (who knew all of 3 songs) said "surly these are the last days!!" So, the pastor moved it back. But, as he pondered these new challenges, he thought of ways that he could make tiny changes that only would be noticed in tiny but curious ways. So, one day he began to move the piano 3 inches every Saturday night. Before the year would be out he would have moved the piano 12 feet. As the weeks rolled along he faithfully moved it 3 inches a week. Then, one day he saw sister blabsitall (the piano player) standing at the back of the sanctuary just staring and scratching her head. The pastor approached her and said, "sister blabsitall, is everything OK?" (he knew he was busted!) She said "yea, something is different... hmmmmm... " , "oh, i see, haha, so you think you can just come in hear and change everything about this house of the lord don't ya?" .... "well don't think you can pull the wool over my eyes pastor, I hear from the spirit every day. He talks to me ya know! As the pastor was getting ready to take a chewing for moving the piano, sister blabsitall said with a passion, "you not only tried to change the paper towels 12 months ago, now your trying to change the brand of toilet paper!!!" A sheepish grin came across his face and he responded. "Yes mam, I will see to it that we go back the the generic brand". She turned and walked to the stage too her seat at the piano bench and began to play one of the three songs she knew "changed in the twinkling of an eye". From that day forward the change slowly happened and the foundation was set. The pastor just caught the secret. Change is gooooood, even if its just 3 inches at a time. The next change? The flowers in the foyer! Just a thought.....

Er's, bad nurses and a police officer

well it began at 11 am in the er and ended seven hours later! Oh what a day! I took my dad to the hospital to make sure he was not having a stroke (he didnt - Thank you Jesus!) and the drama began. As i checked him in they took his vitals (one of 958 times!!) and then a nurse who had THE PERSONALITY OF A FLAT TIRE NOISE AND ALL!!!!!! came in to attend to my dad could not, would not or what ever give us any information at all as to what in the heck was happening - two hours later - she come in to take his vitals again, still NO INFORMATION. So I "fired her" and they got me another nurse (which i would find out later was an angel sent by GOD!). About 4 hours into our luxerious stary at the local ER, me and my dad began to get very very antzy. They come in the room with a wheel chair to go and take a chest X-Ray, which would have been great, IF HE NEEDED A FREAKIN CHECT X-RAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What they ordered 4 hours earlier was a CT scan!!!! So i am hot, no TICKED! at this time. I venture down to the nurses station to find out what was up. Now it gets fun!! A barney fithe, opps.. I mean police officer approached me with a snarl, hands on his gun and a slite strut. (this is where I was VERY, VERY WRONG AND I HAVE REPENTED OF MY STUPID SIN SINCE) i looked at him and asked him,"what are you looking at??" I turned to go back to the 2 inch x 2 inch room and i knew he was following me. Why, you may ask? Well because he was screaming at me! I turned around and said, "Sir, I am very sorry - I really am - please forgive me its been a long confusing morning for me and my dad". He then said " Yea and you better shut your mouth or I will arrest your smart ellick butt right now" I said (as he was about 3 inches from my face) to back off - he precedes to call back up. In walks two other police officers twice my size - and I am a big guy. So i just shut my mouth and let him continue to spew out a bunch of crap. The result?? Well the "fine" police officer was wrote up by the charge nurse, his supervisor and they want me to fill out a report. I wont do that, I think he understands and I thank God I was not falsely arrested. As a matter of fact I made a friend out of the deal. I connected really well with one of the other police officers. lesson learned???? Well, lol its very true that patience is a powerful virtue and I can see why it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Yep, I am a jerk and God said I was acting like one. So, hopefully the next time I am in a deal like that hopefully I can think through the situation before I act through the situation. Like the comedian Steve Harvey said AFTER he came to Christ, "He ain't done with me yet!!" Just a thought.....

TEXTING

Its amazing..... PC's were all the rage 10 years ago. Then the laptop came on the scene. Now? Well its the smart phones. From anywhere a person that has one can post blogs, such as this one, upload pictures, check email, instant message and of course the most popular, text. Its funny, my oldest son who is 16 has "unlimited texting" on his phone. For 20 bucks a month he can text until his fingers turn blue. I was with him and some of his friends a couple of weeks ago (yes he let me go !! LOL) and, get this, they were not talking, they were texting!!!!! then I looked up and saw about a hundred other people doing the same thing. Then something really funny happened. i saw a young man walking out of the door and he just about triped over a lady because he was texting. He didn't miss a beat, he said (with out looking up) "sorry bout that" and kept on texting away. Recently i had to take the phone away from my teen (another story) and what I have found out is amazing. he has something to say!! He actually talks. He is creative, conversational and listens really well. So, i have told him that when he gets his phone back that he will look up and see the world around him, because it will pass you by while you pass it by texting. Well i guess i better close this blog, i have a text that's coming in. Just a thought.....