tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773898195614375362024-03-18T03:29:10.335-04:00I'd Laugh...But All This Happened To Me!We're here to talk about the wild, ridiculous love and grace of Jesus. So come along for the ride, and take time today to laugh, love & forgive. Never regret anything that makes you smile. Don't label people & focus on the positive. And enjoy EVERY sandwich!CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.comBlogger1994125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-24684938990213149132022-04-07T10:32:00.000-04:002022-04-07T10:32:03.711-04:00The Wonders of Baseball<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again." </i>- <b>Terrance Mann</b> (<i>James Earl Jones</i>) in <b><i>Field of Dreams</i></b></span></span><br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love baseball. I realize this puts me in the minority among USAmericans, who <a href="https://youtu.be/5ebyLkCaAL0" target="_blank">(as <b>George Carlin</b> would say)</a> prefer the violence and land acquisition of football to a sport where the ultimate goal is to <i>"run home." </i>But I do love baseball. I love how green the fields are, and the amazing textures of the infields and the outfields. I love the crack of the bat and sound of the ball hitting a leather glove. I love the strategies and the cerebral nature of the game, yet I also love the silly rituals and ridiculous superstitions. I still wouldn't step on a baseline when crossing from the field to the dugout. I love that there is no clock- you simply play until the game is over. It is a beautiful game.</span></span><br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love the history of the game and my history with it. I was at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in 1973 the night <b>Hank Aaron</b> hit his 700th home run. I saw <b>Reggie Jackson</b> hit a home run off <b>Tom Seaver </b>at Fenway in 1986. I have a <b>Cal Ripen, Jr.</b> autographed baseball from after <i>The Streak</i>. I get jazzed remembering that I wore #8 in Little League (playing for the Yankees) because <b>Carl Yastrzemski</b> (Yaz!)was my favorite player. I once saw <b>Dale Murphy</b> slam a pinch-hit home run off<b> Doc Gooden</b> to win a game- with a broken bone in his hand! <i>Legendary!</i> I love the details, like knowing that when I was 13 I hit a home run with a <b>Ralph Garr</b> model bat I got at a <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Braves</span></b> game on <i>Bat Night</i>. And it saddens me that most of you don't know who Ralph (<i>the Roadrunner</i>) Garr is... Because the game never changes-<i> 9 innings, 3 strikes, 3 outs, 90 feet between bases, 60 feet, 6 inches from pitcher's mound to home plate</i>- it is the one sport where you can legitimately argue about who was better, <b>Honus Wagner</b> or <b>Derek Jeter</b> (<i>it's Wagner, by the way</i>) because the era doesn't matter. I love that baseball is still better on the radio than it is on TV. I love that I can still look at a box score (<i>if I can find one anymore</i>) and tell you all about a game I did not see. I love this game, and I treasure this time of the year- opening day. It's all about hope and new beginnings. It just makes me smile.</span></span><br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In many parts of my life, I am a progressive, someone who enjoys and embraces change. When it comes to baseball, I am a <i>purist</i>. I have never liked the DH or analytics or shifts. No baseball team (including my beloved <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Rays</span></b>) should play in a dome unless it has a retractable roof. It is criminal- <b><i>CRIMINAL!</i></b> - that there have been playoff games in Tampa with the temperature at 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, and they were playing baseball indoors. I believe that anyone who suggests tearing down <b>Wrigley Field</b> or <b>Fenway Park</b> is guilty of treason. Those are the 2 "sanctuaries" of baseball. I have attended several games at both, and they were among the most special days of my life. I believe that middle schools/junior high schools should teach students the mathematical equations for ERA (earned run average) and batting average as part of the curriculum. And I believe that hitting a baseball is the single most difficult task in all of sports. The very best fail to get a hit 2 out of 3 tries. I love this game.</span></span><br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #38761d;">Ralph Garr, 1973</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know that many of you will say that you find baseball to be boring. I read a statement back in 2011 from a baseball writer who said he never argued with people who thought that way because baseball is boring to the casual fan. <i>Until it is not</i>. No other sport <i>(with the occasional exceptions of college basketball and playoff sudden-death ice hockey)</i> provides the kind of dramatic, climactic moments that baseball does. Only in baseball- after 150 years or so of professional games- does something happen almost every night that has never happened before. Only in baseball does a team get the chance to complete a magnificent comeback because the clock cannot expire. You play until the 9 innings are over- and then you play again tomorrow. Only in baseball can you say at the beginning of September <i>"there are no playoff races left"</i> only to have the last day of the regular season be one of the most spectacular, meaningful days in baseball history. Baseball may be slow. It may seem to lack action on occasion because the intricacies of the game are lost on so many these days. It may even be boring. <b><i>Until it is not.</i> </b>And then it is simply magnificent!</span></span><br>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have I convinced you yet? :) A full season of great stories lies ahead. Put me in coach. I'm ready to play!</span></span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-14136069360435719432020-02-13T07:58:00.001-05:002020-02-18T08:08:57.869-05:00Lessons Learned & Bridges Burned<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_LKNswMVmYsm03NYBmnd6z-EtrRdwbr2PGkcIripXJmx1ft6NrkobYc6ENxPMg6wQ_RoFmifQwPQ9kGGUrvUB1eDfDMWlUkewmFBRQ0MxVjPvmquPteC1d3rDk-cgGhjA6J4nR8h_pA/s1600/FB_IMG_1566691929078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_LKNswMVmYsm03NYBmnd6z-EtrRdwbr2PGkcIripXJmx1ft6NrkobYc6ENxPMg6wQ_RoFmifQwPQ9kGGUrvUB1eDfDMWlUkewmFBRQ0MxVjPvmquPteC1d3rDk-cgGhjA6J4nR8h_pA/s320/FB_IMG_1566691929078.jpg" width="251" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are all well aware that over the past decade there has been a dramatic rise in the number of mass shootings in our nation. Despite the contentious debate surrounding gun control, it is safe to say that there is no one who thinks such carnage is a good thing. Most USAmericans would like to see us find a way to put an end to such tragic events. We disagree as to how that could be done. Some wish for more guns in the hands of more citizens- "a good guy with a gun is the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun." Others want strict gun laws that make it more difficult for anyone to own a gun. I choose not to have a gun, but that is my choice. Others claim they need their AK-47 for squirrel hunting. It's a complicated issue. The politicians who have the power to change laws and make a real difference in the debate tend to do nothing. They weep and argue and preserve the status quo. And after each horrible shooting, they are quick to offer "thoughts and prayers" to a grieving nation. As if that makes it all ok...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over my 60 years (including 30 spent in ministry), I have witnessed a similar attitude in the way people respond to friends in need. The primary response of Christians to hurting people is to let them know that "I'll be praying for you." Sometimes, due to situation, distance or circumstance, prayer is all we can offer. Prayer can be a powerful thing, although sometimes more powerful for the pray-er than for the pray-ee. We often pair it with a good spiritual cliche, such as "God's got this" or "everything happens for a reason." The past 5 years have taught me many lessons that all those years in ministry did not. And lessons learned often leave us with bridges to burn, so hold on tight. When someone you love has cancer or has watched their child die or lost everything in a hurricane your prayers may be a comfort to them- and yet still not much help. Friends often ask for my prayers in such situations and I would tell them, of course, I will pray- it's the least I can do. I realize now that often that was far too true. It was the <b><i>very</i></b> least I could do. Faith is a strong and powerful ally in times of great stress and tragedy. But sometimes- often, in fact- our words offer not hope, but spiritual guilt. When faced with personal horror, most of us<i><b> both</b></i> cling to and doubt God. We cannot read God's mind. We seldom hear the voice of God speaking directly to us. We get no burning bush. So we have questions that are not answered by cliches and prayers. What does "God's got this" mean to a woman watching her husband's mind disappear with Alzheimer's? What are you saying to parents whose teenage daughter just took her own life when you remind them that "everything happens for a reason?" Our cliches may not be as comforting as we think. In fact, it is possible that we force friends to lie and feel guilty because they do doubt God's place in their story while the Church sounds like we have it all figured out. Lisa was a woman of great faith and courage, but she seldom wanted friends and especially family to know how bad she felt (she felt like telling them she had stage 4 ovarian cancer covered that) from day to day or that she had any doubts about being healed. They often spoke of the faith she showed in her occasional Facebook updates on treatment and progress; they didn't know she had me edit them to hide her pain and doubt. She stayed positive and faithful in public, keeping quiet of the bad days and living life to the fullest on the good ones, and some who loved her hid behind HER smile and pretended all was well. We use our cliches and we offer prayers because we don't know what else to do. It is my theory that people feel more comfortable visiting sick friends and family in the hospital than at home because at the hospital they know little is expected of them. Others find excuses to stay away until their loved one reaches the point of near-death and Hospice steps in. They can deny the reality of impending death and someone else will actually provide the care. And we are scared to death someone might ask the bigger questions such tragedies raise. If "God's got this, then why does my mom have terminal cancer? Did God allow (or worse, MAKE) her to suffer?" If there is a reason for everything, explain to Vanessa Bryant the "reason" her husband Kobe and daughter Gigi were killed in a helicopter crash. Where was God in that story? And prayers? Everyone who knew my friend Lisa prayed for 4 years that her cancer would be defeated- and she had faith that it could happen. Hundreds of people, of all denominations and faiths, spoke to their God asking for her burden to be lifted. In the end, it was not. I have another friend lots of us pray for, diagnosed with 2 forms of often terminal cancer before Lisa was, who is currently in remission. Praise God, but show me the "reason" in that. We all know the feeling of praying for someone and having prayers go unanswered. One of Lisa's best friends and I had several conversations about not even knowing <i>what</i> to pray for when you know death is coming for someone you love. A cure? No suffering? Some sort of theological clarity? We are taught to pray for God's will to be done, but if everything is God's will, does that mean it was God's will that they got such a horrendous disease? It's all hard. That doesn't mean we give up on prayer. God is still with us. But for me, everything changed when I realized that what I could DO was significantly more important than what I could say- even to God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Family and friends would occasionally text or call Lisa to check on her, and she had a wonderful group of friends and fellow teachers who did help take care of her. But the closest others came to action was another cliche- "If there's anything I can do for you let me know." They would invite her to come to see them but never visited her. Another friend of mine with cancer has pointed out that asking is sweet, but just doing something is sweeter! Ask them specific things- if they need a ride to the doctor or something from the grocery or drug store you can pick up for them. Ask if you can stop by and bring them a smoothie. On bad days offer to sit with them even if only to hold their hand while they sleep. Ask if they feel like getting out of the house and take them to lunch. Prayer in action is much better than passive prayer when someone is in pain. No matter how much faith we have, we need the people in our lives to step up and SHOW God's love. Most people experience the answer to prayers and the love of God through the actions of the people in their lives. Because let's be honest- when you are the sick person or their primary caregiver, figuring out God's role in the tragedy is like trying to smell the color 9. These words from Christian recording artist Chris Rice say so much...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">I would take no for an answer</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Just to know I heard You speak</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">And I'm wonderin' why I've never</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Seen the signs they claim they see</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Are the special revelations</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Meant for everybody but me?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Maybe I don't truly know You</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;" /><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Or maybe I just simply believe</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Well I can sniff, I can see</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">And I can count up pretty high</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">But these faculties aren't getting me</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Any closer to the sky</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">But my heart of faith keeps poundin'</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">So I know I'm doin' fine</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">But sometimes finding You</span><br /><span jsname="YS01Ge">Is just like trying to</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span jsname="YS01Ge"><span jsname="YS01Ge">Smell the color 9</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even when we trust in God and know we are loved by Jesus, facing death is scary and confusing. We are supposed to look forward to heaven, but at the same time, we are also aware we are facing the unknown. We KNOW what we are leaving behind- people we love and things we still want to accomplish. And we struggle to find answers. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So if you know someone who is facing a tragedy like a terminal illness, reach out NOW. Pray for them, please. But also do things that show you understand what they are facing. And the same is true for the people taking care of them. The only way to have a clue about what they are going through is to spend actual time with them because most patients are unlikely to share over the phone that they have been getting sick several times a day for 6 months and cursing life as they do, even if they do appear to be living a normal life. I can tell you from personal experience that if I had heard one more person tell Lisa "God's got this" while not spending any time with her and having no idea everything she was dealing with on a daily basis I might have punched a wall. Kate Bowler, a cancer patient, pastor, and professor of religion at Duke Seminary wrote a best-selling book titled "<i>Everything Happens For a Reason...and Other Lies I've Loved.</i>" Two friends of mine, both strong Christian women who have been/are primary caregivers to terminal cancer patients, agree. I'm not alone with my feelings on this. So please, be there for those you love, do things for and with them, and understand that sometimes the best words are no words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I still believe in prayer, in a God that works miracles and who will never forsake us and loves us all. But some bridges have burned with the lessons I have learned. I know from life experiences that miracles don't often happen and that it is easy to feel alone and hard to sense God's presence when you are the ones in the storm. Another favorite platitude of the Church is "God will never give you more than you can handle." That may be technically true, but all of us have felt overwhelmed at times, and no amount of faith can rescue us from that despair at that moment. It takes honest, hands-on caring from those around us. So pray. Trust God. And remember that Jesus calls us to be the hands and feet of love in the lives of the sick and hurting. Just know that the ones dealing with the pain can love God through the doubts, even if finding God in their situation really is like trying to smell the color 9...</span><br />
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<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">9's not a color</span><br />
<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">And even if it were you can't smell a color, and</span><br />
<span jsname="YS01Ge" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">That's my point exactly...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-90055585155312177842020-02-01T10:38:00.000-05:002020-02-01T10:38:18.536-05:00Super Memories<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's Super Bowl weekend, which always brings back floods of memories for me. So many youth group parties and chili dinners with old friends are stored away in my vault. But for the past 10 years, we have spent the day at Winners Sports Bar here in Tampa watching the game and eating good food. The tradition started with Marilyn, Will, and me but quickly became a "family event. Michelle joined in, along with her brother Alex and much of the rest of her family. And for the past 7 or 8 years, Lisa Jewett joined in the fun. Her son Scott came at least once as well. Tomorrow will be another first without her, another day full of happy memories and the sadness of not being able to create new ones. I've missed her during the playoffs when she would ask who was still alive for the big game and "who do we want to win?" She knew my loathing of the Patriots and knew if they were playing we wanted the other team. But she had no great knowledge of football. So game night she would sit near me and ask a lot of questions. And, as always with Lisa, the questions were a hoot! Things like:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Why don't the coaches wear uniforms like they do in baseball?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* If you have offensive and defensive coordinators, why do you need a head coach?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Why can't the first guy who touches the ball (the center) just pick it up and run with it? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* The signals the refs give for penalties are too confusing. Why can't there be a different color flag for each penalty?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Can you substitute in the middle of a play like in hockey?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You get the idea. Lisa also added her own unique flavor to the party. In 2013 we had to find her a Baltimore Ravens jersey for their game against the 49ers. Why? Her son Scott's high school mascot had ben the Ravens, and she loved Baltimore's purple jerseys. In 2014, Seattle was playing Denver. We were rooting for The Broncos and Peyton Manning. But the crowd at Winners was overwhelmingly against us. Periodically one of the fans would start a cheer by yelling, "SEA!" And the rest would respond by yelling, "HAWKS!" After several occurrences of this, Lisa turned to me and said that she didn't understand. Why were they yelling "HAWKS SEE?" She was not hearing the initial sea, only the response and second sea. So, of course, we laughed for quite a while, and we did a HAWKS SEE cheer several times after that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over the last 4 years of her life, Lisa always came for the fun, even though she left early most nights and couldn't eat for several others. She made me call her the moment the 2018 game ended and Will's beloved Eagles had actually beaten the hated Patriots. It's was just another way she was a huge part of our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So enjoy the game. Throw a few brightly colored flags and make up your own penalties. And oh by the way...this year WE will be cheering for the Chiefs!!!</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-19435161886780969332019-12-24T11:07:00.000-05:002019-12-24T11:07:36.601-05:00Empty Chairs, Empty Tables...and an Empty Stocking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Christmas Eve! 2019 has been a year filled with highs (the wedding of Will & Michelle comes to mind) and lows. As so often happens in life, it takes a holiday or special occasion to bring life's changes into full view. This Christmas season was already very difficult, doing so many things we used to with Lisa Jewett without her for the first time. But it is also the first Christmas with Will not at home and with Michelle as his wife. Most of you know I have never been someone who feared change. But today, right now, I have to say enough already!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For most of the past 5 years, our Christmas Eve began at Steak'N'Shake eating breakfast with Michelle while she worked. Lisa would join us, and the 5 of us would do our own little gift exchange right there in the restaurant. This year, Will is also working at Olive Garden- a 12 hour day! So missing breakfast is not the only change to our traditions. A normal Jones Christmas Eve would consist of us going to a Candlelight Service at church, followed by a hot dog (with chili and slaw!) dinner and a watching of <i>A Muppet Christmas Carol</i>. Marilyn and I will still go to church, but the hot dogs and Muppets will now wait until tomorrow when Will and Michelle can join us. The empty chairs and empty tables are making what was already difficult feel very, very sad. It is a day when I should be proclaiming <b>JOY TO THE WORLD </b>but I confess to it being a struggle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cSWJ_EaftXWYe3hLdipQTtc_qFh4xBWLnk-ZWeOD4KGH19mPvrE_sO9ynCfLCoL5ToVJDndTHL87eskAXHjVcqMUGfWA47kTsgQQdjmYeXZpHayy6d_ph3Vb1Bes5j0PpD0bSEE8ZAM/s1600/snoopy+stocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cSWJ_EaftXWYe3hLdipQTtc_qFh4xBWLnk-ZWeOD4KGH19mPvrE_sO9ynCfLCoL5ToVJDndTHL87eskAXHjVcqMUGfWA47kTsgQQdjmYeXZpHayy6d_ph3Vb1Bes5j0PpD0bSEE8ZAM/s320/snoopy+stocking.jpg" width="155" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then there is the empty stocking. On Christmas Day 2015 Lisa was in the hospital, and after our family opened our presents that morning I went to see her. I had picked up this cool Snoopy stocking for $1.99 at Walgreen's the night before and lots of junk to fill it up. I just didn't want her to miss Christmas. For the following 3 years, I kept the same stocking and filled it each Christmas, usually giving it to her on Boxing Day. The gifts got better each year, but that didn't really matter to Lisa. She told me after the second time that she couldn't remember the last time anyone had done a stocking for her, and that it was her favorite part of Christmas. So I have the stocking out this year, and for most of the season, seeing it made me smile as my mind flooded with great memories. But today- knowing I have nothing to put in it, knowing it will continue to be empty- it just makes me miss her even more. Add the empty stocking to the empty chairs and empty tables and it is hard to feel merry about much of anything today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tomorrow is the day we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. It's the day we remember that HOPE came into the world, and that LOVE came down so we could all understand what love really means. Tomorrow I will be ok, as the family gathers and we remember the promise of Christmas. But my word for today is <i>empty</i>. I know I am not alone in that feeling, and for any of you who are hurting and feel loss during this season, you have my prayers. May we all find the HOPE that came that first Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Peace be with you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carl</span></div>
CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-29338585945592459882019-12-18T09:30:00.000-05:002019-12-18T09:30:22.474-05:00Apple Pie<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is Lisa Jewett's 55th birthday, and so it will be a hard day for her family and friends, and especially for me. But I want to share a happy story, so I'm going to talk about apple pie! At some point during the time Lisa lived with us following her surgery and during her initial chemo treatments in 2015-2016 she began craving warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream, so Publix and I provided it for her. Quite often! Those cravings went away for a few years, but in early 2019 returned and we often went to The Village Inn after her weekly chemo for apple pie- and a caramel sauce drizzle. She loved her apple pie. But that's not really what I came to talk about today...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePLYD71HhJ7mhpkspKzNwi3wJbVqpxtWN9frt4Swm8xsZWukuRErodX1hM4IiCvPosxiJvlbd1Ypjz6NaTLa55RKBrOTR-KE5Hxn1Fm4RU5xA2NDulI-uhCB3YTt29MkSAxWVGe2C89Q/s1600/IMG_20181118_203829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="836" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePLYD71HhJ7mhpkspKzNwi3wJbVqpxtWN9frt4Swm8xsZWukuRErodX1hM4IiCvPosxiJvlbd1Ypjz6NaTLa55RKBrOTR-KE5Hxn1Fm4RU5xA2NDulI-uhCB3YTt29MkSAxWVGe2C89Q/s320/IMG_20181118_203829.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometime around 2013, a group of us were having dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse. At some point, a birthday was celebrated near us, and the servers did their version of happy birthday, which is more of a chant than a song. It goes, <i>"Fried chicken, country hog, it's your birthday, HOT DOG!"</i> Lisa had never heard it before and just loved it. A few days later she called, saying she was trying to remember the words and wondering (as always) if I could help. I told her the words, and her end of the phone went silent for a moment. Then she told me that I was wrong because she was certain the chant included the words <i>"apple pie."</i> I repeated the chant (with confidence) only to be told once again that I was incorrect. She spent a great deal of time over the following weeks trying to figure out just where her beloved apple pie fit, but with no luck. When we finally returned to the restaurant she was certain she would be vindicated. As luck would have it an adjacent table was celebrating and the chant was performed. They finished- with no apple pie. But our Lisa was not to be denied. As the servers began to disperse she yelled out,<i><b> "APPLE PIE!"</b></i> As so often happened when she and I were together, we broke out in loud laughter and almost no one else understood. From that point on, almost anytime we were anywhere and anyone was singing a birthday song, at the end we would look at each other, grin and say, <i><b>"APPLE PIE!"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So if you are like me and you are missing Lisa today on her birthday, break out your favorite birthday song for her. And don't forget to finish it off with some apple pie...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carl</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-19496894387721163992019-12-14T07:55:00.001-05:002020-09-14T11:15:27.265-04:00Farewell, Lisa<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My friend Lisa Jewett passed away early Saturday morning September 14, 2019- her heroic 4-year struggle with ovarian cancer finally at an end. My friend Lisa. Even as I typed those words the word "friend" seems overwhelmingly and heartbreakingly insufficient. In truth, there is no single word that describes what Lisa and I shared- but I shall attempt to tell you our story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By August of 2015, Lisa was already a part of our family. She, Marilyn and I had dinner together as often as 3 or 4 times each week. Lisa and Marilyn were Disney buddies, often including our son Will and his girlfriend Michelle. And Lisa and I had become very close. We talked and texted often. We were keepers of each other's secrets. A very special bond developed between us. So when she came to my house one afternoon to tell me she had been diagnosed with cancer and was going to Moffitt Cancer Center to have it confirmed, I was devastated. She sat on my couch and we both cried. She told me her greatest fear was having to go through the fight she faced alone. I promised her then and there she would never be alone. "Always and forever, no matter what." And I spent the last 4 years keeping that promise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many people know that I went with her to almost every appointment, every chemo treatment, and every emergency room visit. I stayed nights with her in the hospital after her surgery and on many other occasions. She lived with Marilyn and me for several months as she recovered. I was her nurse, giving her shots and treating her incision. I was her cook as we tried to find foods that tasted good and didn't upset her system. And I was her friend as we watched TV and took walks and tried to guess what the future might hold. After she moved back to her home I was still her lunch buddy, her Uber driver, and her emergency contact. I was at the hospital with her when she had her gallbladder removed in the Spring of 2016. And right through the end of her life, I was by her side every chance I got. I will be forever grateful to her son Ken and his family for inviting me into their home over her last 6 weeks to continue being part of her care team. Ken was amazing at the end of her life, loving his mom so well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But our bond became so much more than medical. When she started back to teaching I often delivered lunch to her at school. At Christmas, I filled a stocking for her each year, which she once told me was the sweetest thing I ever did for her. She joined my family for so many special events, from movies to dinners. For the past 3 years, I did most of her grocery shopping for her (not that she required much!), was often sent for emergency school supplies, and kept Amazon in business ordering things she needed...or wanted! One particularly bad week of school I sent her flowers anonymously to her classroom. She immediately called me to thank me, and I questioned what made her think I sent them. Her response- "Who else would do that for me?"- may still be my favorite thing she ever said to me. We watched TV together most every night- from separate homes! We would text as we watched. In the summer of 2018 I was blessed to be able to send she and Marilyn on a dream trip for both of them- a Disney Cruise to the Caribbean! In November of that year I took her to New York City, keeping a very old promise I had made to her in 2005. Lisa, Marilyn, Will, Michelle and I had the trip of a lifetime, including 6 shows and nearly freezing to death at the Macy's Parade. Her friends Chris and Carol Miller also took her on great trips (including an Alaskan Cruise in July of this year with Marilyn going as well), and she got to spend incredible times with her 5 grandkids in Asheville and at Disney. I loved that she always came to me for help planning things for her grandchildren. Over the last 4 years of her life, Lisa LIVED better than most of us. And it was amazing to be part of her journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My family will never be the same without her. We will miss her every time we see a movie or a musical. We will miss her every time we celebrate a birthday. They will miss her every time they go to Disney. And me? When will I not miss her? Every time I see an orange car I will want to yell "Skittle!" Every time I watch anything related to "The Bachelor" I will miss her. Every time I have a story to tell, a sadness to defeat, or a need to talk about Sharknado I will miss her. And every time I see a Joe's Crab Shack my eyes will water. That was our place. She was a special, courageous, funny, beautiful woman with whom I shared a unique bond. And it hurts to know she is gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I told her goodbye as I left Ken's house on Friday night, I kissed her forehead and said the same things I had the previous 2 nights as she slipped away from us. I told her I loved her, and that it was ok- she could let go now. Her family was there. And then I reminded her one last time that I was too. "Always and forever. No matter what."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">13 weeks have passed since I wrote the above words, and it has not gotten any easier. We celebrated her life in a service just last weekend, but the hole in my heart feels no closure. Her birthday is coming fast, as is Christmas. Hard times for all who loved her, but if I may be allowed to say so, even harder for me. So many memories, so many treasured moments flood my heart. I still say good morning and good night every day, and suppose I always will. No mater what.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Carl</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-89033568895520202052018-08-06T07:46:00.000-04:002018-09-12T09:17:30.566-04:00Three Years Later...and Cancer Still Sucks<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Greetings friends! When I stopped blogging on a daily basis a couple of years ago, I said that I would still post from time to time if I felt I had something important to say. Today is one of those times. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Lisa, Carl, Marilyn, Michelle, Will & Michelle's brother Alex</b></span></i>.<br />
The fam at opening night of Infinity War.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many of you may recall that in August of 2015 my dear friend Lisa Jewett was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. In the months that followed Lisa had two rounds of chemo with a major surgery sandwiched in between. She had to take a year off from teaching. She lived with us for 4 months while she recovered. Many of you prayed for her and contributed to a GoFundMe account by voting to save my mustache. She continued dealing with side effects from chemo, had her gallbladder removed and slowly recovered. The treatments worked and cancer mostly disappeared from her body. Then it came back with a vengeance almost a year later. Prospects looked bleak until her wonderful oncologist got her into an experimental drug trial. For the past 21 months, the drugs worked wonderfully, despite their somewhat horrible side effects. But Lisa never quit fighting, never quit living her life, and remained full of life and vigor. She went hiking in Utah and NC, took a Disney Cruise with my wife Marilyn in June and continued to spend lots of time with her 5 grandchildren. Her strength has astonished medical professionals who work with cancer patients for a living. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">I know these things because in the past 3 years I have been to all of her monthly oncologist's appointments with her- I think I have missed 2. We talk almost every day. Lisa joins our family for meals on a regular basis. I get to have lunch with her son Scott on occasions as well. She, Marilyn and sometimes Will & Michelle visit Disney together quite often- and she is is currently plotting some way to play the steel drums at their wedding next March. We have attended countless movies and plays together, and in November the 5 of us are going to NYC. The point is, I KNOW these things because Lisa is a huge part of our family and I have walked with her every step of the way. And just when we had settled into the treatment and the side effects and her life was feeling somewhat normal again, we got hit with a bomb this past Wednesday. The cancer is back. And it will mean big changes- again.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Lisa posted the following on her Facebook page so I will let her words give you the details she wants us to know. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><i>Dear prayer warriors- First of all, I am sorry for the long post. An update with what is going on. First of all I want to say I trust in the Lord and have faith that He will continue to bring me through this trial. So much so that I signed up today to do my very first 5K. I registered for the Disney Princess 5K and anyone who would love to run (walk) with me please do! Ok, so now on to the news I received yesterday. My cancer cell count is back up to 800 and there are new tum</i></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><i>ors that have grown. So that means the trial I was on is no longer working for me. They officially took me off the trial yesterday. But the good news is there are new trials and therapies being discovered all the time. They have screened me for an immunotherapy trial that I should start in 28 days. Here are the specific prayers I need lifted up.<br />1. I get in trial<br />2. I can handle the side effects that come with it.<br />3. It works!<br />4. In two years when the trial will be over for me, God has another awesome plan waiting.<br />My heart and soul tells me God has this and always has and I will continue to be a fighter and trust in Him! My hope is in Him. But right now just finding all this out, I will admit is a little scary. Than</i>k <i>you all for praying for me. I know prayers work! The fact that I am still alive proves that</i>. <span class="_5mfr _47e3" style="line-height: 0; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fce/1/16/1f600.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: -3px;" width="16" /></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I believe in Lisa. I believe that Dr. Shahzad and his team have never led us astray and that trusting them has led to great things thus far. And I KNOW that Lisa is one of the toughest, most courageous people I have ever met. As her friend Jen Robison likes to remind her, no matter the odds, Lisa can always "be the one" who will beat them. This is her third round of the battle with cancer, and I will not bet against her! Her Jones family will be there to support her in her fight. As I have told her since day one, "Always and forever- no matter what!" I invite all of you to come be a part of Team Lisa. I promise she will inspire you to great things.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">And as for cancer? #CANCERSUCKS</span></span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-31391135133951743592017-09-19T08:30:00.000-04:002017-09-19T08:42:05.983-04:00Remembering Rich Mullins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><i>Rich Mullins passed away 20 years ago today. In a world where far too many Christians have aligned themselves with the Pharisees, we need to hear his voice and his music more than ever. The world needs Ragamuffins. Here's what I want you to remember about him...</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In August of 1990, I got to spend a week with singer-songwriter <b>Rich Mullins</b> in NC. We were together at a Quaker youth conference, where strangely enough Rich was the speaker and I led music and worship. That week changed my life (<i>you can read more by clicking <b><a href="http://youthguy07.blogspot.com/2010/02/influences-rich-mullins.html" target="_blank">here</a></b></i>). The last night of the week Rich performed in front of the entire conference, both youth and adults. We all assumed he would play songs off his newest project, or perhaps his biggest hit, <em>Awesome God</em>. Instead, he sat at the piano and performed <em>Sing Your Praise To the Lord</em>, a song he had written but that <strong>Amy Grant</strong> had recorded, and <em>Elijah</em>, a song from one of his first albums. As always, Rich sang not to sell tapes, but to praise God. The next morning, as we said farewell, we prayed together one last time, and then he said he had something for me. I had told him about our <strong><em>TNT</em></strong> program at <b>Springfield Friends Meeting</b> and how we gave away door prizes, with the best prizes often being tapes or CDs. He gave me a box of his CDs and tapes, and another box of T-shirts to use as giveaways. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">This was part of the way he made a living- and he just gave it away. Another lesson learned in my life.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">His influence would be felt in so many ways in my ministry in the days and years that would follow. My students who had been at <b>North Carolina Yearly Meeting</b> came back fired up and ready to follow </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Jesus</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">! From that day forward I taught the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes at least once a year, and tried to find ways to get the youth really into learning them. He inspired me to start taking groups of students to work in our local soup kitchen on a regular basis, and later would inspire mission trips. Soon everyone at Springfield was listening to Rich's music and wearing one of his T-shirts. The two shirts carried serious messages. One said <em>"Live like you'll die tomorrow. Die knowing you'll live forever!" </em> The other simply said <em>"Alrightokuhhuhamen,"</em> the title of one of his songs (<i>Another thing Rich taught me- AMEN means YES- not "the end."</i>). The song was all about saying YES to God. I made banners to put up in youth room at Springfield and in <strong>"The Attic"</strong> in Kissimmee with just Alrightokuhhuhamen printed on them. By Kissimmee, we were singing <em>Awesome God</em> and <em>Sometimes By Step</em> on a regular basis. His impact on my ministry was tremendous.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">So was his influence on my life. Along with <strong>Mike Yaconelli</strong>, Rich was one of the two guys I was ever around who just <strong>oozed</strong> <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span>. Listen to this quote from one of his final concerts: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><em>"Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these my brothers you’ve done it to me. And this is what I’ve come to think. That if I want to identify fully with Jesus Christ, who I claim to be my savior and Lord, the best way that I can do that is to identify with the poor. This I know will go against the teachings of all the popular evangelical preachers. But they’re just wrong. They’re not bad, they’re just wrong. Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in a beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken..." </em></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">He moved out of the music scene in Nashville in 1991 to Wichita, Kansas, where he attended Friends University and received a B.A. in music education. He and fellow <em>Ragamuffin</em> <strong>Mitch McVicker</strong> (the <em>Ragamuffins </em>were the band he had formed in 1993) moved to a Navajo reservation in New Mexico in 1995 to live among the Native Americans and teach music. For Rich, <em>"What Would Jesus Do?"</em> was not a bracelet- it was the driving question of his life. And because I knew that, his music was a moving force and a comfort in my own spiritual journey. At times when I struggled with my faith his song <em>Creed</em> reminded me<em> "I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am."</em> At the lowest points of my life, when I had let down everyone who loved me and everyone who believed in me, his words reminded me that <em>"There's bound to come some trouble to your life, just reach out to Jesus and hold on tight..." </em>As I lost so many of the things that had been important to me, I found myself praying his words daily: <em>"Hold me, Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf. You have been King of my glory, won't you be my Prince of Peace?"</em> So many of his words showed me the light of <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span> in my darkest times. No matter how bad it seemed, I knew I was still in<em>"the reckless, raging fury that we call the love of God..."</em> Even his final project, <em>The Jesus Record</em> (see picture at top), promised me that <em>"our Deliverer is coming..."</em></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Rich was killed in a car accident on September 19, 1997. I cried, but Rich himself had already written about going to be with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Jesus</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> in his early classic <em>Elijah</em>- <em>"When I leave I want to go out like Elijah, with a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire. And when I look back on the stars, it'll be like a candlelight in Central Park- and it won't break my heart to say goodbye..."</em> He left such a legacy in my life. I am a <em>Ragamuffin</em>, a bum who is only important because of the love of <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span>. And now, more than ever, I understand that my life belongs to God. He still has a plan for me, and I will say YES when the time comes. As the song says <em>"You can argue with your maker but you know that you just can't win...so say it... Alrightokuhhuhamen!"</em> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Because of Jesus,</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-5506241801747915312016-12-24T06:37:00.000-05:002016-12-24T06:37:03.084-05:00I Am Santa Claus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>The following post has become a Christmas season tradition on this blog because it is so full of great memories for me. I hope it brings back a few for many of you as well. Only 1 more sleep 'til Christmas...</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Way back in 2010 I put together a little slideshow featuring pictures of kids from the various youth ministries I served over the years and jolly old Saint Nick. Most of these pictures were taken at youth group Christmas parties. Some of the "youth" in these old photos are over 40 now. Many of them have children of there own. Others are still in college. The point is, I can look back at these pictures and remember all of the love and Christmas cheer we would all share this time of year and it is very special to me. For you see in every single picture in this slideshow, <i><b>I am Santa</b></i>. It's me under the beard. I always loved doing the Santa thing, and looking back at these memories is great fun.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I chose the song <b><i>I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday</i></b> from one of my favorite old school bands, <b>All Star United</b>. This song is full of energy and joy, but it also carries an important message. How much better would this world be if we were the people all year long that we try to be at Christmas? Enjoy the slideshow. And if you happen to be in it, thank you for some unbelievable memories. I would love to hear from you all. Have a very, merry Christmas!</span><br />
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CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-85764501481375876552016-12-18T08:30:00.000-05:002016-12-18T08:32:00.940-05:00The Christmas Pickle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today is the birthday of one of my heroes, my dear friend <b>Lisa Jewett</b>. In honor of her special day and this special time of year, today's post is an ornament story that concerns a special (<i>although a little strange</i>!) gift she gave my family back in 2005. Here is the legend of <b>The Christmas Pickle</b>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">According to Lisa, the idea of putting pickles on Christmas trees goes back to Germany during one of the World Wars. Soldiers marching through the German countryside would often enter house looking for food and take all that a family might have. One Christmas Eve a family, trying to save some food for themselves, hid some pickles in their tree, where they went unnoticed by the scavengers. As a side note, we do not know if these were individual pickles or the entire jar. In any case, the family had a pickle feast! Over the years that followed it became tradition to hide one pickle in the tree on Christmas Eve as a reminder of that night. The child who could find the pickle on Christmas morning would receive an extra gift and much good luck for the coming year. <b>The Christmas Pickle </b>became a symbol of blessing and prosperity. So when Lisa presented us with our very own pickle ornament, we hung it on our tree. Even though it seemed quite odd. It's there every year, and she has already been over to look for it in 2016- even thought it's not Christmas Eve yet. Will hid it from her but she found it anyway- although this year he made it tough on her! And the tradition continues...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lisa is a part of our family. We all love her very much and love that we get to spend so much time with her. Tonight our extended family will be celebrating at Kobe's, where despite the fact that she will be the guest on honor my son Will is not going to let her play the big drum! Lisa is one of the best friends anyone could ask for, and she means the world to me. She continues to need to our prayers and out hugs in her ongoing battle; cancer won't quit, but neither will she!!! That odd pickle hanging on our tree is a reminder that we have indeed been blessed by her friendship and her love. <b><i>Happy Birthday, Lisa! </i></b>And may Santa bring you a case of pickles this year!</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-77820996370226549622016-11-19T09:31:00.000-05:002016-11-19T09:31:39.348-05:00NYC 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In November of 1976 (<i>my senior year in high school</i>)I went with a group of friends to a seminar at the United Nations sponsored by Friends United Meeting, a national organization of Quakers. That was my first trip to New York City. Over the years that followed there would be 15 more trips (<i>We think this made 11 for Marilyn</i>) to the <b><span style="color: red;">Big Apple</span></b>. I took small youth groups and large ones. I went by myself to plan trips on 3 occasions. I went with a group of friends once, and with my parents and Marilyn once. But the last youth group trip was in March of 2005, and I had not visited since- and had never been able to take our now 21 year old son, Will. Last week (<i>Nov. 10-14</i>) we fixed those two problems with one glorious trip. It was a triumphant return! The city keeps evolving- the old Milford Plaza is now called Row NYC and looks like a boarding home for hipsters (<i>even the spiral staircase and chandeliers are gone!</i>)- but it is still so familiar. It was an interesting time to be there, with thousands protesting our new President-Elect and disrupting traffic, clogging 5th Avenue in front of Trump Tower and filling Times Square and Central Park at times. It is sign of how universally disliked Mr. Trump is in the city he calls home that the cabbies were complaining about <i>him</i>- not the traffic problems. New York is a city like no other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My years of planning trips and my knowledge of the city allowed for us to do some incredible things, as did having set aside a LOT of money (</span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">shout out to my Mom in heaven!</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">) to spend! After flying to Newark, we surprised Will and his girlfriend Michelle with a limo ride (</span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">see picture at top</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">) in to the city and our room at the</span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> Crowne Plaza Hotel</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, located at 47th and Broadway- the heart of midtown Manhattan. Our 29th floor room, complete with a view of Times Square, set a great tone for a fabulous few days together. We began our adventure with lunch at </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>Planet Hollywood</i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and an exploration of </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Times Square.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thursday evening featured dinner reservations at <b><i>Carmine's</i></b>, a classic family-style Italian eatery so authentic you expect to run into Don Corelone most any moment! The restaurant was long a favorite with the groups I traveled with over the years. A long, leisurely meal was followed by front row seats to see <i><b>The Lion King</b></i>, one of two shows chosen by Will and Michelle. It felt like Ed the Hyena was laughing at us- personally! And yes- that's us with the actors who played Mufasa and Sarabi. So cool!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Friday we did a <i>Movie/TV On Locations Tour</i>, visiting famous spots around the city. We saw the apartment building used for outside shots on <b><i>Friends</i></b>, the <b><i>Ghostbusters</i></b> firehouse and a variety of other great sights. Our guide was an actor and stuntman who really knew his stuff. The tour ended at <b><i>McGee's Pub</i></b>, the real life version of <b><i>McClaren's Bar</i></b> from one of our favorite TV shows,<i> How I Met Your Mother</i>. We had a great meal there, with Will proclaiming the <i>McClaren's Steakburger</i> one of his all-time favorite hamburgers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That night we had VIP passes to the <b>Empire State Building</b>, which allowed to skip as 2 hour wait and head straight up to the observatory levels (<i>TOTALLY worth the extra bucks!</i>). As many times as I have been up there, the view never ceases to amaze me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Saturday morning we had breakfast at <b>Ellen's Stardust Dinner</b>, where Broadway bound servers serenade you with show tunes while you eat- and they were awesome! Four of them even did an amazing version of <i>One Day More</i> from <i><b>Les Miz</b></i>- it was like they knew I was there! We then took the new and improved <b>NBC Studios Tour</b>, which was great fun and included Will and Michelle being filmed as part of a make-believe talk show. After boarding a doubledecker tour bus and seeing Central Park, Harlem and the Upper West and East Sides while nearly freezing to death, we grabbed some pizza before heading to our second show of the weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Show #2 was <b><i>Aladdin</i></b>, which none of us had seen before. The music was wonderful, and once again being on the front row made us feel very much a part of Agrabah. James Monroe Iglehart, who won a Tony for his portrayal of Genie, was simply a tour-de-force. The rest of the cast was stellar as well, and the changes to the story from the animated movie worked very well. There was even an actual flying carpet. And just as a bonus, Jonathan Freeman, who voiced the villainous Jafar in the animated version, played Jafar on stage! It was an incredible night for all of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sunday was filled with more sightseeing, shopping and adventure, including seeing Battery Park and the Freedom Tower. The day ended with a fabulous meal at<i><b> Michael Jordan's Steakhouse</b></i> in <b>Grand Central Station</b>, followed by one final visit to Times Square. It was a perfect ending to a nearly perfect trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We flew back to Tampa on Monday, tired but ready to do it all again as soon as we can! It was truly a blessing to get to share one of favorite places with Will and Michelle, and to share it again with Marilyn. And it also reminded me of the hundreds of others that have shared that adventure with me over these past 40 years. What do you think, old friends? Reunion trip? I'll buy dessert...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have a blessed day!</span></div>
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CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-25400917930912689152016-11-07T17:11:00.001-05:002016-11-07T17:11:49.740-05:00Meet the Deplorables<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You may already know that imagining Donald Trump as our President scares me. He has zero experience in government or in leadership outside the dictatorships that are his businesses. He is morally bankrupt, as shown through his business practices, his attitude towards women and his total disdain of anyone who is not white. He is not a true Republican, has never been anti-abortion (<i>and is certainly not pro-life- he a self-confirmed lover of war</i>) until it became convenient, and could not be a worse example of what it means to be a follower of <span style="color: red;">Jesus </span>(<i>Think I'm being too harsh or judgmental? Go to <b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+5&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 5</a></b>, read The Beatitudes and tell me when you get to one that describes Donald Trump. Just one. I'll wait. And while you're at it, find a Fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control- that he exhibits. Again, just one. Still waiting...</i>). In the big picture he has failed at everything- marriages, his University, businesses gone bankrupt, treating other humans with respect- he has ever done, if you don't include looking out for himself. But most of us, myself at the top of the list, make mistakes and have personal failures. My fear of a Trump presidency goes beyond his own failings. You see, as much as The Donald scares me, over the past few weeks I have been reminded that some (<i>although certainly not all</i>) of those who are supporting him actually scare me more. Witness the following accounts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">* My wife works in downtown Tampa, and a few weeks ago there was an afternoon rally for HRC in a nearby park. One of the women she works with attended. This lady is a well respected attorney and one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet. She is also of Asian heritage, although she was born and has lived her entire life in the the USA. As she left the rally, she was approached by an elderly Caucasian couple wearing Trump buttons and carrying protest signs- as is their right. As she passed them, they begin to call her names, using the ethnic slur "Chink" and questioning if she was here legally. Their language became foul as they screamed at her, and by the time our friend returned to the office she was in tears. Deplorable is too kind a word for such people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">* I sat in the food court of an Orlando mall eating lunch and people watching. A father and son walked by my table. The father- approximately 35 years old- was wearing a Trump hat and button. On the front of his blue t-shirt was a picture of a rifle. The back of the shirt read, "<i>George Zimmerman is a Hero!</i>" His son- around 10 years old- wore a red t-shirt with a target logo on the front pocket area and the following inscription on the back- "<i>Shoot first, ask questions later!</i>" I knew these people existed. My fear is that a Trump presidency will bring them out of the shadows and empower them. And that is horrifying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">* I sat alone in the local Dairy Queen eating lunch as four men talked at a table close to me. They were white men in their 30s or 40s, clearly on lunch break from a job that required them to work outdoors in the hot Florida sun. At first they talked about sports and especially the Buccaneers early season woes. I tuned in, always curious to hear the opinions of others. From football they moved into a discussion of the <b>Black Lives Matter </b>protests currently being raised during the national anthem at various sporting events. They were offended by the protests, as is their right. In fact, they were very angry about it. The conversation then turned to politics and how much they hate...and I mean HATE!- Hillary Clinton. They were confident that Trump will win, because who in their right mind would "<i>vote for that lying bitch.</i>" President Trump will turn things around, they declared. And then they revisited the <b>Black Lives Matter </b>issue. "<i>When Trump is elected,</i>" the best dressed of the group declared, "<i>he'll send snipers to </i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>ballgames and shoot those f***ing ni**er bastards. Let's see 'em protest then.</i>" There are so many parts of that statement that offend me I don't know where to start.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Donald Trump did not say or do any of those things. But as we keep seeing over and over, the things he says INSPIRE his supporters to say and do those things. He seems to want them to say those things, and creates an atmosphere where such things are perfectly acceptable. And that is why this election scares me so badly. If he wins- <i>and that could happen</i>- that mentality wins along with him. And everyone who does not think like Trump and his Klan (<i>yes- intentional!</i>) will be caught in the cross-hairs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Donald Trump is unfit to be President. He was <i>fired</i> from his job hosting a reality TV show, for Pete's sake! I wouldn't vote for him to be dog catcher. And for those of you who support him, please give me a rational argument that doesn't begin with, "<i>But Hillary...</i>" You say HRC is liar and a crook, yet Trump is caught in a lie nearly everyday and has actual court cases awaiting him. Hillary has none, and she has been investigated for the past 25 years. She's a long way from perfect, but she is qualified, experienced and ready to serve. DT is none of the above. Recognizing that Hillary has issues and that Trump is a madman are not mutually exclusive positions. It's just that one is far more significant than the other! While on our Hawaiian vacation 2 months or so ago I overheard our election being discussed by two men, one a Brit and the other an Aussie. They were both very confused as to how someone like Trump could be a finalist for the most important job in the world. The Australian gentleman asked, "<i>You don't really think he could be elected, do you?</i>" The Brit pondered the question a moment and replied without much certainty, "<i>No. Not even the bloody Yanks are that stupid.</i>" I pray that my British friend is right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">CJ</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-26769484597480247642016-08-10T06:15:00.000-04:002016-08-10T06:15:01.595-04:00God Bless Our Teachers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, teachers in Hillsborough County (Tampa, FL) go back to work. They have been preparing their classrooms, preparing lesson plans, receiving training and getting ready for a new school year. Today, the students arrive! In a few parts of the country this has already occurred; in other regions it is yet to come. In any case, these dedicated men and women prepare to face a new group of students under increasingly difficult situations. Many are not paid as well as they should be. Some face budget crunches that force them to purchase many of their own supplies. They will encounter difficult students, difficult parents, difficult school boards...and local politicians who simply don't get it. The simple fact that so many of them return to their schools today to fight these battles should earn them our unending respect and admiration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It should also earn them our prayers. Wherever you are, whether school has already begun or doesn't start for a few weeks yet, make today a day of prayer for the teachers you know. Ask God to bless them, protect them, encourage them and inspire them. And then ask the teachers in your life what you can do to help them this year. We count on teachers to make a difference in the lives of our children. Let's use today as a springboard to make a difference in the lives of those teachers. To those of you who continue in this most noble profession- and I am blessed to call many of you, from all over this nation, my friends- may God grant you wisdom, energy, insight and serenity as you go through this school year. You are loved!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because of Jesus,</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-52482572568932313062016-08-07T06:47:00.000-04:002016-08-07T06:47:02.318-04:00We All Fall Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">The following lesson comes from the ragamuffin soul of the late <b>Brennan Manning</b>. I believe that you- just like me- will be able to see yourself in these words. We all fall down. And then </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: red; line-height: 18px;">Jesus </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">picks us up, dusts us off, and we start all over again- fresh, clean and new. Have a blessed Sabbath.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">“Because salvation is by grace through faith, I believe that among the countless number of people standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands (see <b>Revelation 7:9</b>), I shall see the prostitute from the Kit-Kat Ranch in Carson City, Nevada, who tearfully told me that she could find no other employment to support her two-year-old son. I shall see the woman who had an abortion and is haunted by guilt and remorse but did the best she could faced with grueling alternatives; the businessman besieged with debt who sold his integrity in a series of desperate transactions; the insecure clergyman addicted to being liked, who never challenged his people from the pulpit and longed for unconditional love; the sexually abused teen molested by his father and now selling his body on the street, who, as he falls asleep each night after his last 'trick', whispers the name of the unknown God he learned about in Sunday school. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">'But how?' we ask. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">Then the voice says, 'They have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">There they are. There *we* are - the multitude who so wanted to be faithful, who at times got defeated, soiled by life, and bested by trials, wearing the bloodied garments of life's tribulations, but through it all clung to faith. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">My friends, if this is not good news to you, you have never understood the gospel of grace.” </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27405.Brennan_Manning" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Brennan Manning</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/863196" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out</a></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because of Jesus,</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-62198660014094508002016-08-04T07:43:00.000-04:002016-08-04T07:43:00.733-04:00A Trump In the Temple<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Be smart," they told me. "Avoid politics and religion," they told me. Smart was never my strong suit...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There seems to be a lot of confusion and debate in both the media and the Christian community about why Donald Trump has become an acceptable candidate for the Evangelical church. There should be no confusion at all. It's a simple matter. Since the rise of the Moral Majority in the late 1970s, Christian leaders have been consistent in voice and committed to the idea that <i>real Christians</i> vote Republican. That's nearly 40 years of indoctrination for the average Sue and Joe who fill a pew on Sunday morning. Many of our pastors and leaders have made it very clear- a vote for a Republican candidate is a vote for <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span>. So the logical conclusion- and this reckless course we are now on- was inevitable. The fact that Mr. Trump has nothing in common with most conservatives, evangelicals, Christians or even many Republicans doesn't matter. Trump has no relationship with the church; he seemingly discovered the need for a belief system just in time to run for office and lure in voters. The leaders have spoken for 40 years, and we have learned. He is a Republican. So vote for him. And based on poll numbers, much of the mainstream evangelical Church seems prepared to do just that - or at least they did until he began once again showing his true colors these past few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My point? We've spent too many years listening to the wrong voices. We have bought into the thinking that voting for a specific party is the way to "return our nation to God." Many of these leaders may have meant well, but the fact is they forgot the most important thing. Only one voice should speak for the Christian community. And that voice belongs to <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What would The Christ have to say about The Donald? Obviously I don't know. But there are things we do know. We know that Trump has said that winning is all that matters, that he lives for the art of the deal and that money is power. We know that he singles out specific groups of people that he finds unworthy of love and support. We know that he considers himself as a superior human being to many on this planet. We know that while <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span> said, "Blessed are the peacemakers," Trump responds to every situation with confrontation and bomb slinging. And we know that all of those things are in direct contradiction of the teaching of <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span>. It is true that most politicians (<i>indeed, most people</i>) do poorly when their character and beliefs are compared to the Messiah. Hillary is no exception; her faults are many. But at least she is not <i>pretending</i> to be a Christian for the purpose of being elected, having spent her life as an active part of the United Methodist Church. All of us fall short of the example of Christ. But few fail the test as completely as Trump.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So how should the Church view the Republican nominee? Here's my take- and I fully confess it is a judgmental one. I think we should recognize that if the Christian community backs Trump, then we are opening the door to a money changer in the temple. You remember the story of how <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span> responded to them. He overturned tables, scattered their followers and threw them out of the temple. If we put Trump in the White House by allowing him into the temple, thinking he will lead our nation on the path of God, we should do it with the full knowledge that <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span> will probably have to throw him out. Or at least remind us that we should...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wish I thought the Church would come around to understanding that politicians and patriotism cannot save us, only <span style="color: red;">Jesus </span>can- and he came for the world,<b> NOT</b> just for USAmerica. I wish our leaders would acknowledge that Trump may be a good politician but he's a horrible human being, and that the latter is much more important than the former. I wish the believers who scream "SOCIALISM" at every mention of the right sharing of resources in our nation would pause and read Acts 2:42. I wish lots of things. But right now, my biggest wish finds me in agreement with something my old friend Jacob Lupfer posted on <i>Twitter</i> a while back. I wish a year ago we had lined up behind Jeb Bush and given our nation a rational choice in November. Instead, we are starring into the abyss that would be a Trump in the temple. Vote for Trump if you must. But do not do it because he represents <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span> is any way, shape or form. Because he does not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because of Jesus,</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-86954045709453075362016-08-02T06:00:00.002-04:002016-08-02T06:00:31.636-04:00Tuesday Playlist: Billy Joel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Can't really explain why (<i>well, I could....but you don't really want to know</i>) but this past weekend I found myself setting my iPod to "Billy Joel" and just letting it play. I even bought a few hidden gems I had been missing since the days when I owned most all of his albums. I have been a fan of Billy since the mid 70's, and my wife is one of his biggest fans. I first saw Billy in concert when he was the opening act for <i><b>The Beach Boys</b></i> in Greensboro back in 1974. We have seen him numerous times since, including twice in one week in April of 1994 in NC and with Sir Elton John in Chicago in 2001. We love Billy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Listening to so many great songs made me wonder if I could possibly narrow the list to a Top 10. It was quickly apparent that the answer was <i><b>NO</b></i>. So instead, I set my trusty iPod to shuffle and let it pick 10 great <b>Billy Joel </b>songs for you today. Hope this will bring back some memories for you as well- or send you searching for some great new (<i>to you!</i>) music! Sing us a song Billy- you're the Piano Man!</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Matter of Trust</i></b> (from the album <i>The Bridge</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Ballad of Billy the Kid</i></b> (from <i>Piano Man</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Longest Time</i></b> (from <i>An Innocent Man</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Entertainer</b></i> (from <i>Streetlife Serenade</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>We Didn't Start the Fire</i></b> (from <i>Storm Front</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>This Night</i></b> (from <i>An Innocent Man</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Scenes from an Italian Restaurant</i></b> (from <i>The Stranger</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>You May Be Right</i></b> (from <i>Glass Houses</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Just the Way You Are</i></b> (from <i>The Stranger</i>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Prelude/Angry Young Man</b></i> (from <i>Turnstiles</i>)</span></li>
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CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-88008518316625761092016-08-01T05:58:00.000-04:002016-08-01T05:58:46.885-04:00HIMYM Monday: Robin Sparkles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In one of the classic early episodes of the great series <i><b>How I Met Your Mothe</b></i><b><i>r </i></b>(<i>Slap Bet, Season 2 Episode 9</i>) Barney asks the gang to go with him to the grand opening of a new Sharper Image store. Everyone is in- until Robin learns it is at the local mall. She balks, refuses to go, and refuses to tell them why. After a wild series of events in which Barney thinks she was a mall porn star and Marshall thinks she got married in a mall, Ted tries to pin her down- but to no avail. Marshall and Barney make a <b>Slap Bet</b> as to which of them is correct (<i>more on that in a later post</i>). Finally, after much research, Barney discovers a video (<i>which he thinks is porn</i>) and they all sit down to watch together. They discover that to Robin's great embarrassment that in the early 90's she was a teenage pop star in Canada, performing under the name <b>Robin Sparkles</b>. And this was her big hit... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As the seasons pass, they gang discovers that there are more videos of Ms. Sparkles floating around. <i>Sandcastles in the Sand</i> plays an important role the first time Robin and Barney hook up. <i>P.S. I Love You</i> introduced the world to Robin Daggers, a darker version of Sparkles who "invented grunge music" at the Grey Cup halftime show, years after Kurt Cobain thought he invented grunge. Robin Sparkles was that important to music history. We also learn of her obsession with Paul Shaffer and the wonders of <b><i>Tim Horton's </i></b>doughnuts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There was one other Sparkles story. Robin and her best friend <b>Jessica Glitter</b> had been on a children's TV show in Canada called <i>Space Teens</i>- a show about math. The big song from the show was called <i>Two Beavers are Better Than One</i>. Seriously. Needless to say, Barney goes back to assuming it is porn. We also learn that Robin and Jessica have lost touch over the years. The gang reunites them a New York's premier Canadian themed bar, <i>The Hoser Hut</i>. And a musical reunion ensues as well...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As I have mentioned many times, one of the things that set this show apart for me was the great continuity. The Robin Sparkles stories, spread out over many seasons, are a huge part of that. And on a personal note, my old friend Steve and I still text random Sparkles lyrics to each other just for fun. Have a "Sparkling" Monday. And remember...you should go to the mall. Today.</span></div>
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CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-4136619745157349602016-07-18T05:00:00.000-04:002016-07-18T05:00:06.308-04:00HIMYM Monday: Sunrise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4px;">Welcome to another <i><b>How I Met Your Mother</b></i> Monday! For a die hard fan like myself, choosing a favorite episode from the the series is like picking out which hot glazed doughnut in a dozen from <i>Krispy Kreme </i>you will eat first. You cannot go wrong! In a later post I will choose my top 10 from the over 200 episodes, but today I want to focus on one from the final season that is right at the top of any such listing. It's the episode entitled <b><i>Sunrise </i></b>(</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>season 9, episode 16</i>) and the more I see it, the more I love it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;">To set the stage, we are only hours away from Barney and Robin's wedding. Barney, having gotten really, <i>REALLY</i> drunk that night, has wandered away from the Farhampton Inn. Ted and Robin begin to search for him. A wandering Barney discovers two lonely young men in need of a mentor and begins to teach them the ways of awesomeness. These two threads rum simultaneously through the show.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 22.4px;">Robin and Ted make their way out on to the beach in search of Barney, where they begin to talk about Ted's old girlfriends. Robin inquires about several of them, asking if Ted talked to them lately. We learn through a series of flashbacks that Ted has talked with each of them- all in his efforts to find a locket Robin buried as a young woman and planned use as her "something old" for the wedding, but cannot find. In the course of this, Robin lists her Top 5 of Ted's ex-girlfriends, and does not include herself.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Her top choice is Victoria, whom Ted dated two different times and who ditched her own wedding to run away with Ted. When Robin says that she never really understood why they broke up, Ted hesitates to tell her. When she pushes the issue Ted blurts out, Because of you, Robin. We broke up because of you." When Robin inquires "Why?" she gets the following answer:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Ted</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">: <i>I'm not gonna answer the question, because you know the answer. You want to talk about my Top Five? There's no Top Five, Robin, there's just a Top One - and it's you.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Ted wanted Barney and Robin to be happy. He was determined not to undermine the wedding in any way, and he eventually saves the wedding with the locket and a pep talk to both parties. But he knew the truth that he could not turn off his feelings no matter how hard he tried. More on that later...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Meanwhile Barney is schooling his young proteges in the fine arts of visiting strip clubs and talking to women- including introducing them to the game <i>Have you met Ted</i>? At the end of the evening, as the young men debate just who this genius is, Barney delivers the following speech:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Barney</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">: <i>A few final thoughts. Don't get married 'til you're 30. Play laser tag at least once a week. Give as many high-fives as you're gonna get. </i></span><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooked_(How_I_Met_Your_Mother)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #663366; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="w:Hooked (How I Met Your Mother)">Teacup pigs</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px;"> are lady magnets but very hard to care for - not worth the effort. The same goes for </span><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autumn_of_Break-Ups" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #663366; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="w:The Autumn of Break-Ups">dogs</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px;"> and </span><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rebound_Girl" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #663366; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px; text-decoration: none;" title="w:The Rebound Girl">babies</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px;">. And most importantly, whatever you do in this life, it's not legendary unless your friends are there to see it. Good luck, boys. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"><i>[</i>gives them napkins detailing pages of his fabled Playbook<i>]</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-style: italic; line-height: 22.4px;"> Take care of the Game for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">For all of his posturing and narcissism, Barney understood one very important things. Friends make the world go 'round.<i><b> Whatever you do in life, it's not legendary unless your friends are there to see it.</b></i> Now that's awesome.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Back to the lost locket. Ted tracks in down with Victoria in Germany (<i>looooong story!</i>) and she overnights it to him- but it is intercepted by another of Ted's exs, crazy Jeanette. She meets him on a bridge in Central Park and upon learning why he wants the locket accuses him of trying to ruin the wedding and win Robin back. She accuses Ted of being crazy. And Ted responds with what to me is one of the greatest definition of <i>romantic</i> love ever spoken...</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;"><b>Ted: </b><i>I'm in love with her, okay? If you're looking for the word that means caring about someone beyond all rationality and wanting them to have everything they want, no matter how much it destroys you, it's love. And when you love someone you don't stop- EVER! Even when people roll their eyes or call you crazy. Even then. Especially then. Just just...you don't give up! Because if I could give up, if I could just, you know, take the whole world's advice and move and find someone else, that wouldn't be love. That would be, that would be some other disposable thing that is not worth fighting for.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Of course Ted does eventually give up and finds "the Mother," but that doesn't change the fact the he stole a blue French horn for Robin- and as he says, would have stolen her an entire orchestra. There is nothing easy about letting go of true love, even if it is unrequited. It's just a magnificent episode that never fails to move me. The 3 quotes I featured today are among my favorites, and the scene with Ted and Robin on the beach at the end- when Ted finally lets her go as the <b>Bangles</b> song <i>Eternal Flame</i> plays behind them- is beyond perfect. It's this kind of humor combined with this kind of heart that made HIMYM so amazing to me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px;">Join us next week for another HIMYM Monday!!!</span></span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-9539209089775015742016-07-16T07:40:00.000-04:002016-07-16T07:40:08.845-04:0021<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: magenta;">July 4th @ Margaritaville (BTW- the beard is now history!)</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Will Jones turns 21 today. Our little boy has grown into a fine young man. He's a loving son, an honor student, a faithful boyfriend and a caring friend. He has has always (</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">well...MOST always!</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">) been a joy to be around, but I have never enjoyed his company more that I do today. We are much alike in so many ways. We share passions for music, movies and grand romantic gestures. We are of one mind when it comes to the politics of the day. And we both believe there are few things in life better than a good sausage gravy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tonight we will celebrate this momentous occasion with a dinner with family and friends at Maggianos. It is hard to believe 21 years have passed since Will joined our family, but it is even harder to remember that there was a time before that. I could not be more proud of the man he has become and the son he has always been. We all know that the bond between mother and son is always special, and Will and Marilyn certainly share that unique connection. I am just so thankful to be able to say that he and I have something very special as well. I love you buddy, and can't wait to see what then next chapters of life have in store for you. Have a wonderful weekend of celebrations!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dad</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-18927707512069247172016-07-14T06:00:00.000-04:002016-07-14T06:00:12.925-04:00When Nothing Else Could Help...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcjsrIKnhZ04G5TWJBiDajTvdyJWVqsI6IDMwjxo3446GOe6saaPz6xOSzD424m78kPkunL0yKEA1xuQ72tP6oDWTKE00MJkEr6myxWFxId8yP4_ekuoMonDzF9h0Nfjn_SXfCJlzS2E/s1600/Love+Lifted+Me.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcjsrIKnhZ04G5TWJBiDajTvdyJWVqsI6IDMwjxo3446GOe6saaPz6xOSzD424m78kPkunL0yKEA1xuQ72tP6oDWTKE00MJkEr6myxWFxId8yP4_ekuoMonDzF9h0Nfjn_SXfCJlzS2E/s320/Love+Lifted+Me.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the classic hymn of the church called <b><i>Love Lifted Me</i></b>. Today I would like to share with you an exercise in gratitude that uses the chorus to that simple song as its basis. The lyrics to the chorus are as follows:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Love lifted me, love lifted me</i></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>When nothing else could help, love lifted me</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the song, "</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love"</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> represents the love of God whose name is</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. And that love does indeed lift us out of many difficult situations and give us hope when all hope seems gone. But there are many times when that love comes to us through other people in our lives. And today, I want you to remember those special people, who have lifted your heart and your spirit when you needed it most. So sing the entire chorus, or if you don't know the tune, just read the words aloud. Go ahead. </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Love lifted me..." </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Now do it again. But this time, instead of the word</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"love,"</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">substitute the name of someone who has given you love and hope. For instance at various times in my life I have sung</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Steve lifted me"</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">or</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Denise lifted me."</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Again, sing the entire chorus. Keep going, substituting a new name each time. Recognize how often</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">works in our hearts through the people he places in our lives. Finish the exercise by singing the name of</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in place of love. Then take a few moments in prayer, giving thanks for all of the names you have mentioned.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I do this exercise several times a week when I am alone and aware of how important the people in my life who love me are to my spiritual growth and mental health. I encourage you to make this a regular part of your prayer life as well. We all have known so many people who are blessings from God in our lives, and we should live with an attitude of gratitude. Have a blessed day, and thanks for being among the many who have <i>"lifted me." </i>You are needed today more than ever!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because of Jesus,</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-39765456101762122002016-07-13T10:08:00.001-04:002016-07-13T10:14:15.416-04:00Happy Birthday, Krispy Kreme!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Today is the 79th birthday of the <b><i>Krispy Kreme</i></b> doughnut. This is an auspicious occasion in my life. Even at my advanced age, it's hard to remember a time when <b><i>Krispy Kreme</i></b> was not a part of my life (<i>they were in NC before they were much of anywhere else</i>), including some fairly momentous occasions. Witness the following examples:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We sold them by the dozen as a fundraiser for my Cub Scout pack when I was around 10 years old. Yes, I was that young once...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In college there would often be midnight runs for hot doughnuts. Sometimes I delivered them to friends and sometimes we all piled into tiny cars and went together. One of those nights was the first time I ever met my future wife Marilyn.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Stopping by the local 24 hour <i><b>KK</b></i> was a regular part of my youth group's <i>Rec Around the Clock</i> event for many years in many places. I particularly remember a large group standing outside the one in High Point, NC and watching the hot doughnuts roll off the conveyor belt at 5 am as we ate them by the box full.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I once served hot glazed doughnuts and OJ as communion on a youth group beach retreat we took from Springfield Friends Meeting. There's a lot in that statement to process, since Quakers don't traditionally practice communion at all...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I have eaten hot glazed doughnuts for <i>LUNCH</i> with a friend- and I am not ashamed to admit it!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Before the <i><b>KK</b></i> opened in Kissimmee, FL I would sometimes drive to Orlando on Tuesday mornings so we could have fresh doughnuts for our <i>Breakfast Club</i>. It made me a hero to those youth brave enough to get up early for the meeting!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I have purchased hundreds of dozens of hot doughnuts from the <b><i>KK</i></b> in North Myrtle Beach, SC over they years and delivered then to the <i>Betsy B</i>, often risking my life to get them in the house before people started ripping boxes from my arms!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are few things in life that conjure up as many fond memories for me as <i><b>Krispy Kreme</b></i> doughnuts. I have eaten more than my share of chocolate cream filled and chocolate</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRqK1sYhw55FBoUFOsauRBOSZJNKLcsGhPeDe8L6uwhErwzJyJ9pk7ebX4farEv3OBJ0QT_3Qza5Qo1gu33AqG42nN2Ue7x-ShVcId-fjGv7eSxL8w75RDkBl1af9f5nWi_1tGp6DHfQ/s1600/kk-hot-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRqK1sYhw55FBoUFOsauRBOSZJNKLcsGhPeDe8L6uwhErwzJyJ9pk7ebX4farEv3OBJ0QT_3Qza5Qo1gu33AqG42nN2Ue7x-ShVcId-fjGv7eSxL8w75RDkBl1af9f5nWi_1tGp6DHfQ/s320/kk-hot-sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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glazed, of blueberry and of jelly filled. But there is nothing like seeing this sign, snarfing down fresh manna from heaven and licking that glorious icing off my fingers. Even now, as a diabetic, there are times when they are just totally worth the cheat. There's only one problem with today's big birthday deal, featured in the ad at the top of this post. If I got a dozen hot glazed right this minute and had them here all by myself, I would eat every stinkin' one of them! And be very, VERY happy! So go get some doughnuts today. Make your own memories. And tell them Carl sent you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-45649134612731022142016-07-11T05:57:00.001-04:002016-07-11T05:57:23.307-04:00"How I Met Your Mother" Mondays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"Kids, I'm gonna tell you an incredible story..."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's now been over 2 years since my favorite TV show of all-time, <i><b>How I Met Your Mother</b></i>, aired its final episode. But thanks to syndication, and especially to <b>FX</b>, it is never off the air. I own the entire series on DVD, and I can watch every season over and over again without growing weary of the great comedy and friendships shared by Ted, Robin, Barney, Marshall & Lilly. I read recently that <i><b>McGee's</b></i> in Manhattan, the bar that was the inspiration for <i><b>McClaren's</b></i> (<i>featured in nearly every episode of HIMYM</i>), still changes there menu every Monday (<i>the night the show aired for 9 seasons</i>) to feature themed items that celebrate the series. I recently re-watched the final season again and was amazed at how emotional it still makes me. These things combined to inspire me to write a series of posts about the show to be featured on Mondays here on the blog. So welcome to the first <i><b>HIMYM Monday!</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each week I will attempt to capture the true spirit of the show and explain some of its lasting influence on my my heart. There will be flashbacks to entire episodes and to brief moments in time. There will be exploration of some of the ancillary characters who helped make the series feel so real. There will be lists of things that should not be forgotten and favorite things that never will be. Friends, it was would be a stretch to say that anyone I know has been asking for this series of posts. But I need to write it. So I trust you will enjoy reading along.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, I want to share some words I wrote in the final days of the original 9 year run of <i><b>HIMYM</b></i>. It explains why the show mattered to me, and why it is my favorite. It seems like a great jumping off place and an easy way to let you know the <i>WHY </i>of my need to write about this show. This is from March 31, 2014- the day the series ended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You see, <b>HIMYM</b> has been the rarest of TV shows- 9 years with the same cast, the same writers, the same director and the same story line. It has more continuity than any show I have ever watched. Just this past week I watched the pilot immediately after watching the most recent episode, and they feel completely connected- 206 shows later. Plus (as I have written here before) <b>HIMYM</b> has always rewarded faithful viewers with inside jokes and references. And nowhere has that been more evident than in this final season. Every show has been a treat for those of us who have watched faithfully, full of little things that let us know the writers remember us. It is brilliant. And it makes <b>HIMYM</b> my favorite show ever. Sorry, Seinfeld</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So as we say farewell, HIMYMers will remember the classic moments that will stay with us long after the show is gone. We will always suit up, always give high fives and never forget to be legen...wait for it!- dary. We will fear the cockamouse while believing that Nessie is a gentle creature, and that Sasquatch is very real. We will continue to search old music stores for vintage Robin Sparkles vinyls. We will treasure last words and understand the importance of being there when friends are hurting- even if it means dancing Christmas lights set to AC/CD music. We will occasionally hum <b>Bang, Bang, Bangity Bang </b>and <b>Marshall Vs. the Machines</b>. And I, for one, will have <b>Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit</b> as my default ringtone. We'll remember that we have indeed met Ted, that nothing good happens after 2 am, that new is NOT always better and that most anything can be "the dream." We will remember the crazy eyes and that there is a "hot/crazy scale." We will still be expecting one more slap to finish off the bet. We will remember that nothing is more romantic than stealing a blue French horn for a girl the first night you go out, throwing 3 parties in 3 days just to see her again, or making it rain (by doing a rain dance!) so you can get together with her again. And most of all, we will remember that nothing we do in life is legendary unless our friends are there to see it. To call this show a comedy is to miss out on the many dramatic moments and life lessons that have been offered up along the way. To not see it as a comedy is to miss 9 years of hilarity. <b>HIMYM </b>is the complete package.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If all of that is nonsense to your brain, then come back every Monday and learn about the wonders of <b><i>HIMYM</i></b>. If that started your heart on a trip down memory lane...then ditto. Join me next week and we'll explore what has, with the passage of time, become my favorite episode, complete with the ultimate definition of romantic love. See you at <i><b>Sunrise</b></i>. You don't think I can write about the show most every week for a few months?<i><b> Challenge accepted!!! </b></i></span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-45985380030054465462016-07-06T06:45:00.004-04:002016-07-06T06:45:36.668-04:00Let It Shine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Every now and then the lyrics to an old familiar song jump off of my iPod and smack me upside the head, bringing some clarity to feelings or thoughts I might be struggling with at any given time. Yesterday featured one of those moments. The song was <i><b>There's A Place In the World For A Gambler</b></i> by my old favorite Dan Fogelberg, and these were the words that hit home. No further explanation is needed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>There's a light in the depths of your darkness,</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>There's a calm at the eye of every storm.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>There's a light in the depths of your darkness...</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Let it shine, oh let it shine!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Now if only I can heed Dan's advice...</span></div>
CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-63625032965096457052016-07-01T06:00:00.000-04:002016-07-01T06:00:07.742-04:00The Hogwarts School of Youth Ministry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: magenta;">Bob in Spanish Wells, 1997</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>This post was first shared in May of 2014. I share it again on this <i>Flashback Friday</i> in it's original format (<i>slightly edited</i>) for a couple of reasons. One, I was recently asked once again how we were able to do all we did in our student ministries and this post is my favorite answer. Two, I wanted you to see the original comments. And three, I have been talking with a lot of old Kissimmee friends these past few weeks. It got me thinking about the good old days...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"Most folks these days don't have enough faith to see that God's magic is happening all around them..."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have a dear friend named <b>Jennifer Kuramochi</b>. Some of you know her her <b>Jennifer Minnigan</b>; still others simply as <i><b>Bob</b></i>. You can read about her days in the youth ministries of the <b>First United Methodist Church of Kissimmee</b> in many posts on this site, including <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://youthguy07.blogspot.com/2010/04/legend-of-bob.html" target="_blank">The Legend of Bob</a>, </i>which is her entry into my <i>Hall of Fame</i>! So anyway...Jen and I are still friends. We were talking a few weeks back and she was telling me that whenever she recounts stories from her youth group days people are often in disbelief of all that we were able to do. Her husband <b>Jun</b> just shakes his head in wonder at the fact that a church youth group was able to go places like Spanish Wells, New York City and Myrtle Beach- not to mention the speakers, the concerts, the mission trips and the day trips. We got a lot of that same reaction at the FUMC-K reunion last year. Jennifer told me that once when asked how we were able to do all that we did, she thought for moment and responded, "<i>I'm not sure. I think maybe Carl was part Wizard!</i>" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of my favorite places on Walt Disney World property was <b><i>The Beaches and Cream Soda Shoppe</i></b>. I remember not only the great meals and the oh-so-decadent banana split pictured here, but also all the times times we were there with so many old friends and youth groups. This, after all, was the home of the <b><i>Disney Dash Ice Cream Bash</i></b>! One of those memories concerns the time in 1993 a group of us from <b>Springfield Friends Meeting</b> headed over mid-afternoon one day to get an ice cream fix and wound up singing <i>Hopelessly Devoted </i>to the other patrons of the restaurant (click<i> <b><a href="http://youthguy07.blogspot.com/2010/03/but-now.html" target="_blank">But Now</a></b> for the whole story!</i>). That memory got me thinking more about that amazing '93 trip to <b><i><span style="color: lime;">W</span></i></b><i><b><span style="color: lime;">DW</span></b></i>, stories of which were told here on this blog under the label <b>Magic Tour</b> back in 2010- and it took me <i><b>20 posts</b></i>! Each of the nearly 50 participants had a 5-day park hopper pass. We stayed at <b><i><span style="color: #a64d79;">Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort</span></i></b>. We ate at some of the finest restaurants on property, and saw both the <i>Hoop-de-doo Musical Revue</i> and <i>Polynesian Luau </i>dinner shows. We were special (<i>and featured!</i>) guests at <i>Pleasure Island's Comedy Warehouse</i>. Every day was amazing, and as Marilyn I sat talking on Saturday the words of Bob came ringing back to me. How did we do all that stuff? Maybe I was part Wizard...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Of course we know the truth. We were able to do all that we did and accomplish all that we accomplished because we were blessed by God to do these things in <span style="color: red;">Jesus' </span>name. All of the churches I served had the resources and gave us the freedom to dream, to be creative, and yes- to be <b>MAGICAL</b> with our youth ministry programming! But the adult leadership in each of those ministries deserves credit for this one thing-<i> we believed the magic could happen!</i> We had faith that amazing things could happen. We had the audacity to believe in the biblical directive to pray big prayers and dream big dreams. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I learned early on from some brilliant mentors that youth ministry thrives when you live in the </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic;">Possimpible </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thank you, Barney Stinson</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- that place where the possible and the impossible meet.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> There was no doubt in my mind that if we did those things, God could provide the supernatural- the </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>MAGIC.</b></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I suppose you could say I attended the </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Hogwarts School of Youth Ministry</b></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">! What I lacked in theological training I made up for in faith. I believed in what we were doing and never allowed nay-saying </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Muggles</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to steal our dreams. If I were indeed part Wizard, it was only in the sense that I never ruled anything out just because it seemed to be out of our reach or impractical. Big churches or small, we believed in trusting God to take us to places beyond our grasp- but firmly in His. There was never any doubt in my mind that God had great things in store for the churches I served a youth pastor. That's how we did great mission trips over my 28 years to places like DC, Chicago, Nashville, Tijuana and Spanish Wells. It's how we did ski trips, amazing weekend retreats, over a dozen NYC trips, took trips to see the Braves play baseball, spent weeks at Myrtle Beach and had <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: magenta;">New York Trip in the early 1990s</span></i></b></td></tr>
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amazing adventures together at </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="color: lime;">WDW</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. It's how we hosted great bands like </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Spooky Tuesday</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, <i>Sundry</i>, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lost And Found</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Geoff Moore & the Distance</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, and communicators like Curt Clonninger, Duffy Robbins, Mike Williams, Rick Bundschuh and </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ted & Lee</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. It's how we did outrageous summer events, had awe-filled worship and built bonds that are still strong to this very day. It's how we changed lives! We didn't get everything right, and we had our share of mishaps. There were times when it became less about God's power and too much about me, and the ministry suffered. But even in the tough times, we never stopped believing in the magic of youth ministry to bring teenagers into the presence of God and into relationship with <span style="color: red;">Jesus</span> and with one another. And when our plans were filtered through a mission for Christ</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and magnified by God's love for us, all things were possible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Looking back now, I still can't explain how it all came together. I don't know how we paid for everything, I don't know how the plans came together so well, and I don't know why God blessed us in so many ways- other than we believed God would! I just know that for 28 years God kept sending waves, and instead of ducking and hiding we kept yelling <b><i>SURF'S UP!!!</i></b> It was indeed magical. And if that makes me part Wizard- probably more like the foul-up <i><b>Mickey the Sorcerer </b></i>than <i>Harry Potter</i>- so be it. The abiding lesson of the <b><i>Hogwarts School of Youth Ministry</i></b>? Never underestimate the awesome power of God to do things that are far beyond your reach. So tell me, fellow Christians- do you believe in that kind of magic? The church so often seems to be full of <i>Muggles</i>...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because of Jesus,</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377389819561437536.post-31157371755133448392016-06-30T08:06:00.002-04:002016-06-30T08:06:27.034-04:00Some People...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It has occurred to me lately that there sure are a lot of different sorts of people in this crazy world (<i>Yes I know- Captain Obvious here!</i>) and that I seem to know a lot of them. This train of thought came to me recently while reading some <i>Facebook </i>posts from a former member of one of my student ministries from back in the day. He has been going on and on lately about social/political issues in ways that blow my mind. He spews hatred towards our current President, claims that racism and sexism are creations of the liberal media and is all in favor of having all of USAmerica arm itself with guns. All of this from a man who as a teenager had me prepare a file so he could prove he was morally opposed to war on religious grounds in case the draft was ever reinstated. This was one of my all-time favorite students, and now I am not sure I would want to be in the same room with him. Some people, huh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It has been one of the true blessings of my life to get to know so many people in so many situations. I bet you know some of them too...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people like lima beans and liver, proving beyond any doubt that we all have capacity to be wrong!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people do not have the capacity to admit they are wrong.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people make you smile every single time you see them or hear from them. These folks are keepers!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people piss you off with most everything they say or do, no matter how hard you try to be accepting. These people are toxic.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people know everything about you and love you anyway.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people know almost nothing about you and dislike you anyway.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people treat others like crap and no one ever calls them on their behavior.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people can change your day with a hug.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people disappear from your life and leave a hole in your heart.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people vanish from your life and you barely notice they are gone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people know the worst things you have done and choose to remember the good things.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people can only focus on the negative.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people are wonderful sounding boards, who listen with open ears and non-judgmental hearts to anything you have to say.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people only want to talk about themselves.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people I can't imagine living without their presence in my life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people just need to move on!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people see diversity and change as scary things.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people see diversity as God using his paintbrush and creativity to include all the colors of the rainbow.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people are family, even when there is no blood relation to you at all.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some family members are just people. Blood may be thicker than water, but love is thicker than both. It's not family without love.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people use their faith as hammer, beating on people and driving them away from our loving God .</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people use their faith as a blanket, wrapping people in the loving arms of Christ and making them feel safe and included.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people I miss terribly each and every day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people you can go months without talking to, yet when you do talk it is like no time has passed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people you see everyday and have no idea what to say to them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people can change my day for the better with a text, a call or an email. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people I love so much that it hurts not to be with them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some people make my world- and <i>THE</i> world- a better place simply by being in it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And some people don't...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Do you know any of these people? Are <i>you</i> any of these people? It is my prayer that my life make a positive difference in the lives of the people and the community around me. And to those of you "some people"who make my life worth living in these difficult times, thank you. You are appreciated and loved. And I would love to get a chance to tell you that in person. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Because of Jesus,</span>CJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03608764007763442455noreply@blogger.com2