June 30, 2009

A friend just commented about being old this morning. That comment coming after a 60 + mile bike ride up the mountain to Beersheba Springs and back.

That made me think though. Old is a mindset (I believe). I know a lot of "old" people who are very young. I buried a 95 year old young person last year.

I also know some 40 somethings who are ancient and waiting to die.

I want to live, and run, and jump, and climb trees as long as I am able, and when I can't physically do that anymore, I plan to dream about it.

Peace

Jim

June 29, 2009

Long day so far today. I think I'm brain dead.

I remind myself about how God seems to have a way to pick me up when I'm low. Too often I seem to forget how God has a way of working miracles that would go unnoticed if I didn't give my attention to him.

Peace

Jim

June 28, 2009

Can't find the original poster that I wanted but this one is good too.

Slow down today and "think" about what God might be speaking to you. You might need to sit and think. And you might just need to sit.

Peace

Jim

June 28, 2009

A treehouse without a tree

Can't make concrete without handprints

Happy Girls makes for a happy day

June 27, 2009

Speaking of changing routines, I took the entire day yesterday and went to my daughters to play with the grand kids and work on their playhouse (which is what I call a tree house without a tree). I'll try to remember to post a picture later.

I spent the entire day playing with the girls - and Kevin the only grandson -

No computer, no work related issues, just the girls and Kevin. It is a very hard thing for me to step out of the order of my usual day. But if we are to encounter new things, have new experiences or otherwise turn our mind somewhere other than the norm, we need to at least sometimes change the order of our "normal".

Peace

Jim

June 25, 2009

Going out to hit a few golf balls with my boy this morning. Kevin has been fun this week.

I "sort of" changed my routine yesterday. Parked in a different place, walked early in the morning and worked on my sermon in the afternoon. There was not a huge difference but I did notice some things. I noticed that I thought about different stuff by not following my normal path. I noticed that time seemed to go by slower. I noticed that when you stay up till midnight racing Mario Karts on the Wii (definitely not my routine) that if feels cruddy at daylight the next morning.

Those are all simple changes to the norm, but I think I'll try to go a little deeper in my changes and move to some changes in how I study my Bible or how I "think" during my prayer time. In other words I want to make some Spiritual changes and see what happens.

Peace

Jim

Routines

June 24, 2009

Just for kicks, try to break your routine by doing some little things different.

I parked in a different parking space this morning and sat on the other side of the coffee shop. The view is different and I found myself thinking about different things than I normally do. I think I'll continue breaking the routine today and see what happens. I'll try to report on that tomorrow.

That may sound a might trivial but it makes for an interesting day, and who knows, maybe I'll be brave enough to change some other of my routines/habits...

Peace

Jim

June 23, 2009

Hiking on the Fiery Gizzard trail at South Cumberland.

A rocky trail

Hot, tired feet in cold water

A good morning.

June 12, 2009

Going hiking with my only boy this morning. Headed out to Fiery Gizzard. It ought to be a morning for some listening to the Wild Goose. If you don't know what the Wild Goose is, I'll explain later.



Peace
Jim

June 22, 2009

In his book Wild Goose Chase, Mark Batterson speaks of slowing down and not missing life in general and the occasion to help somebody else in particular. He says:

"When we don't pace ourselves, we tend to miss divine
appointments right and left...We get so consumed with trying to get where we
think God wants us to go that we put on spiritual blinders...The key is slowing
down your pace, taking off your sandals, and experiencing God right here, right
now."

Watch for the divine appointments with or for God today. In other words, keep an eye out to be God's hands or feet in your day.


Peace

Jim

June 21, 2009

My friend Ruth reminds me of this song. Click on the link below...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oNcmrhoZvI



Peace

Jim

June 20, 2009

Its been a busy day with the church yard sale. But I am sitting in the living room looking out at the evening working on a funeral sermon for tomorrow.

Thinking about the busy-ness of each day, and then the slow down for eternity helps me to put life in perspective. My friend Ruth is enjoying that slow down this minute.

Peace

Jim

Be Thou My Vision

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roMgWzXOnvY

Peace

Jim

June 18, 2009

II Timothy 4: 1-5

In The Presence of God

Peace

Jim

June 17, 2009

A lot of people see life this way, as a long road to nowhere.

But the truth is that all roads lead somewhere.

Life is a journey and it is largely what we make of it. Our job is to live in this life, not just exist, but really live. And when we start having a difficult time "living" is when we need to be encouraged to look to Jesus, the author and perfector of our life.

Encourage people to look to Jesus.

Peace

Jim

June 16, 2009

Pictures from conference

Martin Methodist Alumni Choir

Betsy sang in the choir and Malinda played violin



Josh and me

Josh at licensing

June 16, 2009

I sure am glad that God loves me in spite of me. I am glad that God looks at me and sometimes thinks, "You missed it here, you didn't get it right there, why in the world did you say or do that!?...but keep trying. One of these days you'll get it right."

Conference is over today. It'll be good to get home.

Peace



Jim

June 15, 2009

Licensing and ordination service last night. Josh and I both are in the video. Its almost like finding Waldo though.



Click on the following link for a youtube video of the procession.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGSFXTqcaHU

June 15, 2009

Last night Bishop Wills talked about being an admirer or a follower of Jesus. Admirers are those who followed Jesus around listening to him teach and being amazed by him... but turned away when called on to sacrifice.

Followers though are the ones who put down their nets and went with him, those who suffered for his name, those who put feet on their faith and took ownership in what Jesus asked them to do. Followers practice thier faith.

In short, followers make a life with Jesus, admirers simply give lip service.


Peace

Jim

June 14, 2009

Finished with the first day of Annual Conference. Had a good worship service tonight. Our Josh was licenced and ready to begin his appointment. I am proud of him. It is a great responsibility to answer a calling to lead God's people in worship.

Peace

Jim

June 13, 2009

Spent the day with grandkids today. Long day and I'm tired.

Peace

Jim

June 11, 2009

Going to be a busy day today, I'll think I'll start out with Cracker Barrell !

Just enjoy creation today, and spend some time thanking God.

Peace

Jim

June 10, 2009

The more I think about all the things we're not to do, the more negative we sound and the more exclusive we seem. As I thought about how Christians sometimes labor over what we're against, this song came to my mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Q7cP3ij5g

Peace

Jim

June 9, 2009

Someone wote:

"Why is it that many Christians spend more time talking about what they are
against than what they are for?"

I read that, and I thought hummmm...
Think about that and we'll talk about it more this week.

Peace

Jim

Adventure !

Part of the problem with many folks is that we spend too much time questioning God when we should be abiding in him. What that means is that we doubt more than we trust.

When we abide in God we are spending time with him in everything we do. Our relationship with God should not just be a church thing. In fact, if our relationship with God is only a church thing then we are not abiding in him at all.

Abiding in God is spending time with God in prayer, its reading our Bible, its stepping out in faith trusting God for the outcome. Abiding is living day to day. We are to abide in God's presence.

Peace

Jim

June 7, 2009

Hope you have (or had) a good day at worship today.

Today is children's day at Turkey Creek UMC. Children's Day dates back over a hundred years in our church. Tradition is a good thing, it causes us to look back which causes us to remember who we are and where we've come from.

Peace

Jim

God is there...

Today would be one of those days that it would be nice to set up office in the coffee shop.