Hope and Faith

Posted in Books

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7

LightThere is nowhere else to go but to God. He is not the last resort; He is the first choice. The only choice. That’s who Jesus turned to in his darkest hours. Knowing he was bound for an unspeakably painful and horrifically barbaric death, Jesus gave hope to his followers and strength to his trusted disciples. They would fail him, but he did not fail them. He was made strong through faith in God’s plan. We are made strong by God’s profound love. We have hope because we know we are redeemed by grace, not because we have earned it, but because God loves us.

Beautiful Outlaw

Posted in Writer's Block

Was Jesus Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant? Read On

Have you ever wondered what Jesus was like? Not the Jesus nailed to the cross, but the living, breathing, human Jesus, the man who spent 33 years living as we live. In his book “Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus,” author John Eldredge takes what some might consider a radical and unreligious approach to exploring the personality of Jesus.

I suspect he’s okay with that kind of criticism. It’s sort of the point of the book. Religion as we know it is nothing like the world in Jesus’ day. “Church” wasn’t practiced in the ways it is in the modern world. Too often we see the “don’ts” of religion, and not the hope central to the teachings of Christ. Being in the temple (church) and being part of the body of Christ aren’t in the same ballpark.

Eldredge points out that In his day Jesus was more likely to upset the religious establishment than he was to agree with its leaders. Most of Jesus’ miracles, Eldredge says, were done outside the normal worship experience. Beautiful OutlawAnd Jesus shied away from no one.

Beautiful outlaw is a good description for a man who often hung out with all the wrong people, at least as defined by the religious leaders. “Beautiful Outlaw” made me smile, laugh outright, and often caused me to nod my head in agreement. Eldredge shows Jesus exactly as he was in this life, fully human in his interactions with others. He points out that despite all the religious art that portrays Jesus as a martyred saint complete with halo, Jesus was a man with an intense interest in people. He didn’t back down from confrontation. Other than driving the money changers out of his Father’s house, he showed no tendency toward violence, nor did he seek recognition or power.

Jesus never forgot his purpose. He was not condescending, proud, vain, or loud. He asked as many questions as he answered. His ministry had little to do with what has come to be known as organized religion. Eldredge leads his readers to see Jesus in the way you would see your very best friend. Someone you can talk to; someone who will listen.

John Eldredge is an author, counselor, and teacher. As president of Ransomed Heart Ministries, he is devoted to helping people widen their understanding of God. He has written a number of books on spirituality and living in relationship with God. John lives in Colorado Spring with his wife and three sons. Click here to read an excerpt from “Beautiful Outlaw.”

If you love to read books that bring insight and new ways of thinking about Jesus, religion, and spirituality, I recommend this book.

“Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus,” is available in e-book, paperback, hard cover and audio versions. Published October 2011 by FaithWords, book prices range from $9.99 (e-book) to $17.47 (Hard Cover).

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Rejoice and Be Glad

Posted in essay, Inspiration, Life2 Comments

SunriseThis is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Glory hallelujah! We have every reason to rejoice and be joyful. When we enter each new day with an attitude of optimism life is sweeter. In Anne Lamott’s book, “Help, Thanks, Wow, The Three Essential Prayers,” she encourages the simple approach to prayer. It doesn’t take a deluge of words to get your message across to the one and only present and loving God. Ask for help when you need it, give thanks all the time and don’t forget to acknowledge the “wow” moments with awe and praise.

Sunrise is a wow moment. Rejoicing in the gift of life is a wow moment. The birth of a child, the touch of a mother, the strength of a father, these are all wow! moments. Life is full of wow moments. The heart-stopping, heartbreaking moments come as well, but not in the abundant way the wow moments come. When they do come, we can still rejoice in the Lord for he is standing with us. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4. NIV

Rejoice. What an awesome word. It means to be happy and to make someone else happy. You can’t beat that as a way of life.

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Beginnings

Posted in Books

SEASONS

Spring blooms glorious birth,

Summer sun warms the earth,

Autumn flames riotous bright,

Winter freezes into cozy quiet.

Laughter weaves through it all,

Answering to nature’s call.

MORNING

Mauve weaves through

Gold and pink,

Slashes of purple

Wink and blink

Night tugs toward day.

Get up! Get up!

Bright colors sing

Receive this, Heaven’s gift

Let your soul take wing

Time passes oh so swift.

Night tugs toward day.

FIRST LIGHT

The day arrives

Am I ready? NOT.

Good to go,

Oh what rot!

More to do

Than I can take

Less time to do it

I’m barely awake!

FIRST LIGHT II

Incandescent red

Shot through with light

Yellow orange bright

Flaming across the dark of dawn

First light pierced with errant ray

Melding hues, surge into day.

Morning is here.

5 Reasons you are important

Posted in Uncategorized

Volunteers Wanted

When I go to meetings, I often see the same faces. These are dedicated folks who believe in making a difference, and who believe there is a difference to be made. They Will Rogerssometimes suffer criticism instead of praise for their efforts, but this does not deter them. They show up, give their opinions, lend their support, stand up for the promise of a better tomorrow, and forge ahead. They volunteer for business groups, animal welfare activities, social justice causes, civic improvement organizations, and anything else you can think of that will make your life and mine a little better. They don’t get paid, and most go unrecognized. These engines for change are the lifeblood of a vibrant community. If you aren’t currently working for the betterment of the community as a volunteer, here are a five reasons you might want to come to the next meeting of interest to you, and sit down at the table.

Ideas

Ideas are the seeds of change. Without ideas, there would be no iPad, iPhone, or iMac. There would be no interactive notebook that responds to a touch. There would be no music, no art, no books, no invention of any kind. It all begins with an idea. If you think your ideas aren’t important, think again. You can and will make a difference, but only if you are at the table.

Perspective

I’ve been at the table many times, perhaps too many times, some might say. My perspective comes from my frame of reference. I still believe my perspective has value, but so does yours. When decisions are being made your thoughts count. If you aren’t present, those thoughts won’t be heard, not because your perspective is being ignored, but because you aren’t there to represent it.

Kick the lid off the box

It is an unfortunate fact of organizations that sometimes leaders become mired in procedure and process and forget their primary purpose, whatever that may be. The board and membership ages. Individual members become complacent or overburdened. In either case the lid must be kicked off the box so new energy, new leaders, new members can come pouring in. Leadership development is as critical as new ideas. Your presence and participation as a new volunteer can make that happen. You can learn from and be mentored by seasoned volunteers.

Your Experience

Nobody brings to the table what you bring. Your experience at every level will help inform and define the organization you become involved in. You will get out of it exactly what you put into it. Your experience will make the organization better and stronger for your participation.

Self-development

Getting acquainted with people you don’t ordinarily encounter is an excellent way to expand your horizons. Their energy, their ideas, their dedication will energize you, inspire you, and broaden your creativity. Studies have shown that people who are more involved and engaged in life are happier. Volunteering is good for you. So, come to the table. Be a part of making your community great. Just as seeds need water and sun to grow, organizations need your fresh ideas, perspective, and experience. They need you to kick the lid off the box and pour in your creativity and energy. And isn’t it encouraging to know you will benefit from the experience?

Back in the box

Posted in Books1 Comment

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20 NIV

In his book, “When the Game is Over, it All Goes Back in the Box,” John Ortberg uses game playing as a When the Game is Overmetaphor for what we value in life. Too often, we play the game and forget that in the end, everything goes back in the box.

What are you out to win? What value do you put on winning? What do you crave that is here today and gone tomorrow? What are the treasures you lay up in heaven?

In this six-session spiritual study on “living life in the light of eternity,” the section on, “No One Else Can Take Your Turn,” gave me a moment of clarity I must revisit from time to time. With the very best of intentions, I seek outcomes for others based on what I want, not want they want or even what they need.

Instead of trying to fix what (or who) I think is broken, my job and joy is to live my best life now. Instead of wishing I was as educated, talented, or well-respected as my friend, or brother, or cousin, I must make the most of God’s generous gifts to me. Every second counts, not because it could be my last, but because God’s love for me and his plan for me, are gifts I can open anew every day. No one can take my turn in life, nor can I take someone else’s.

I am reminded of a story I heard about a young man – we’ll call him Ed – who paid a proxy to attend college in his name. The proxy did all the studying, took all the tests, and did the “walk” to receive a diploma in Ed’s name. Ed thought he was clever to have someone do all the work. Ed was even able to get a job interview with a prestigious company based on his proxy’s performance and grades. The problem came when Ed had to speak for himself and prove his worth. In the end, his diploma had no value. He hadn’t lived the life of a student nor had he learned what he needed to know. He put his value on that piece of paper, not in an educational experience designed to sustain him.

I don’t get, nor do I want, a proxy to “do” life for me. I am well equipped by the Master Planner to live my best life now. Sometimes I forget that and try to worry my way to resolving the problems of loved ones or friends. When I’m doing that, guess whose life I’m missing out on?

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And the word is…?

Posted in Writer's Block

Jake: A Murder in BrooklynAlan M. Guy is a retired dentist and indie author. “Jake: A Murder in Brooklyn” begins when the protagonist is awakened at 3:33 a.m. from a dream. Detective Stanislaus Jakubowski (Jake) begins a quest to find the vicious murderer of his now retired, former detecting partner and mentor. Guy cautions readers that the content is raw and gritty, and “Not for everyone.”

Guy, a member of a Florida writing group, produced this work as a challenge to see if he could write without using an English word deemed to be most common in all compositions. Can you guess what word he left out?

My senior center writers’ critique group is composed of an eclectic mix of capable, original thinking, intelligent individuals, all of whom have impressed me and educated me in some way or another, to become better at this craft.

Mary Alice brings wisdom, derived from her many active years, to frequent musings: most are humorous in her unique style. A few are serious. I guess it must depend on her mood that week.  All her creations, however, reflect her ability to simplify with dignity and grace those thoughts, which flow through her mind.

Carol contributes her unique ability to make us feel comfortable with her down home Wisconsin war-year childhood essays. We feel these essays must be compiled into an anthology to share with her family members. Most outstanding is her writing and rewriting remarkably reflective remembrances carefully crafted with alliterative alliterations.

Bonnie has created a semi-fictional family saga, which entertains and envelopes us with each reading in its unusual stylized format. In addition, she has a remarkable ability to listen intently and constructively critique unabashedly. Despite her recent “JOB-like” trials and tribulations, she has returned to us with her ever-positive smile and giggles.

Steve has shown an ability to artfully describe real characters. On his imaginative side, he creates fictional futuristic mysterious men secretly training for some worldly salvaging of our seas, or perhaps more, as that might be a smokescreen for something more sinister.

No one can deny Limone’s deep-seated love for his horribly damaged homeland. He expresses his spirituality so humbly as he describes his feelings towards God, Mother Earth, and his fellow human beings.

Doug has brought an unusual frank story of real people from financially humble beginnings with a style so dramatic it is enthralling just to listen. He has a fabulous matter-of-fact ability to read his story that seems like a professional actor. He has a great voice for radio.

Don’s mischievous, rebellious views of life and religion sometimes masked a great talent he possessed in many artistic aspects of his long life. His position was that he was unable to critique our fiction, which did not detract from sharing with us his well-researched writings on classical painters and Germany’s Bauhaus movement.

Jane, as facilitator, provides guidance with a well-balanced firmness to keep our group on track, combined with enough flexibility to allow some deviation, so long as it is informative or helpful to some of us in our world of writing and literature. Her lack of visual acuity, which has forced her to become an involuntary Luddite, has not deterred her ability to keep up with current events or knowledge of the technology to which she is no longer privy.

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Answer? The. Did he succeed?

Tools of the trade

Posted in Writer's Block

EmersonHow many times have you wished for just the right image or message to convey your thoughts and feelings? What about combining them? Do you wonder where people come up with all that stuff you see on the internet? It’s mind blowing when you think about it. Some of the content is just plain silly and some is breathtaking. A lot of what you see is amateurish at best while some is breathtakingly beautiful. I don’t think there’s much you can do with a good photo except post it and let the viewers take it in visually and intellectually. Sometimes, however, you want to take your photo to a different level. You want your audience to get what you meant when you took that shot. One way to do that is with a free design tool called Canva (www.canva.com). Most of what is on the site is free, but you may need to pay for photos that are not stock photos. Even at that the paid images are mostly in the $1 range. Or you can upload your own photos and designs, as I did with the image at right.

It is a simple-to-use tool. There is a slight learning curve but it won’t be long before you are creating all kinds of designs. You can use them in Facebook and other social media posts and in blog posts. Aside from being a useful tool, it is down right fun to play with.

I learned about this site by attending a webinar conducted by Joan Stewart, www.publicityhound.com and Joel Friedlander, joel@thebookdesigner.com, well-known names in the indie publishing business.

If you are looking for a handy tool to add to your design toolbox, this is it and it is (mostly) free.

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Note: I am in no way affiliated with Canva . These are my thoughts based on my experience. There may be other similar programs in the marketplace. I have not tried them.

5 Awesome Reasons to Try Sparkpeople.com

Posted in Inspiration

SparkPeople.comWhat is Sparkpeople.com? It’s not just another weight loss program; it’s a FREE weight loss program that emphasizes healthy lifestyle, above all else. It has fitness tools, nutrition and fitness tracking, support through online resources, and a broad array of fitness videos with instructions on how to safely do the exercises in your home.

The site’s promo copy points out countless activities you can do to get healthy and reach your goals. Among those activities are:

  • Lose weight
  • Live a healthy lifestyle even if you don’t want to lose weight
  • Guides to nutrition, fitness, and motivation
  • Health and wellness information about conditions, treatments, and health news
  • SparkPeople experts
  • Recipes

 Awesome Reason #1

It’s FREE: This is not a hook to get you started on a 10-day free trial with a fee kicking in after that. It is 100 percent FREE. Every resource is available to anyone who signs up. That isn’t to say there aren’t items available for sale, including a fee for direct coaching if you think you need it. But you aren’t required to buy anything. Sign on and have immediate access to tools you can use.

Awesome Reason #2:

Spark. You receive regular e-mails from SparkPeople with links to helpful articles. Do you want to know more about living a healthy lifestyle, weight loss, exercise, diabetes, high blood pressure, allergies, or wellness concerns? SparkPeople has articles to answer your questions. These daily e-mails spark you to log on every day, which is the first step to following through.

Awesome Reason #3:

Goal setting. You can’t know where you’ve been until you know where you are going. How many Sparktimes have you said, “I’m going to lose 25 pounds by my cousin’s wedding, or my class reunion (or whatever special date or time is out there).” That kind of thinking leads to yo-yo dieting. SparkPeople’s strategy is to spark participants to embed lifelong changes designed to ensure good health. By setting realistic goals, you set yourself up for success.

Awesome Reason #4:

How many times have you read that keeping a “food journal” or an “exercise journal” is crucial to weight loss success? Have you tried that? Writing down every single thing you eat throughout the day? Writing down your physical activity? I’ve tried. I just can’t do it. SparkPeople has trackers. All you need do is search for a food or activity, select the measure and add it to your tracker. Not everything is there, so you may need to add something now and then, but it is, for the most part, easy to do. (I say “for the most part,” because there is a learning curve, but you can do it.)

Awesome Reason #5:

This site has terrific articles and videos about health related subjects. And I cannot overstate this – it is all FREE. Select from nutrition, fitness, motivation, health and wellness, weight loss, Spark recipes, and more. You will find multiple articles or videos on subjects of interest to you.

There is more to the site. Explore. See if it will work for you. It is working for me. I’ve lost 12 pounds over 40 days, have not felt deprived, upped my activity, and physically feel better than I have in years.

One thing I don’t like about the site is the very reason it is free; it is loaded with ads, and the pop-ups are annoying. But I reiterate the site is free to you. SparkPeople developers learned early on that if you have a good idea you can make “passive” money by offering something everyone wants, and then charging advertisers to offset the cost of delivering that content to readers. SparkPeople hit the mother lode. SparkPeople.com gets more than 100 million page views a month and has more than 15 million registered users. That’s a lot of potential buyers for advertisers. The ads are sometimes annoying, but not to the point of detracting from the mission of SparkPeople.com: to provide tools for a healthy lifestyle, a service people want and are in need of… and it is FREE to the consumer. You can’t beat that.

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Note: I am in no way affiliated with SparkPeople.com . These are my thoughts based on my experience. There may be other similar programs in the marketplace. I have not tried them.

5 Benefits of Grammarly

Posted in Writer's Block

InspirationI hate editing my copy. It’s the trickiest part of writing. There are so many ways to go wrong when you are producing words by the hundreds. For all the value word processing programs have brought to writers, their biggest flaw is literal non-contextual interpretation of words.

She went their to see her mother. Their is spelled correctly, but it’s wrong in this context.

The bear truth, is misleading unless you are talking about a big brown animal you came across in the woods.

Grammarly.com, an online instant grammar checker and more,  is a wake-up call: Commas, periods, exclamation points, oh my! Spelling, context, confused words, oh my! Voice, mixed metaphors, unclear comparisons, oh my! Grammarly points to the word or phrase and suggests an alternative, or that you rethink what you’ve written, oh my (head in my hands here), and sigh. I am not a horrible writer, but I am too often a lazy one. Grammarly is worth every cent of the $139 I paid for it.

Grammarly forces me to think: Yikes, what a thought. Think more about what I write. Perish the thought. However… (Picture me thinking here: Hmmm, Grammarly might not be happy about that ellipse. Does it have a purpose? It does come in handy now and again, because as I write I may want to slow my readers down. Still, is the ellipse necessary, or am I slowing down the reader too much?) I hope you get the idea. As a writer you do want to think about every aspect of what you’re writing – spelling, grammar, voice, tone, and readability, and yes the occasional ellipse.

Grammarly hates, hates, hates, passive voice: If you use this product be ready for a rude awakening. You think you’re writing in electrifying ways, until you see how many times you slip into passive voice. Why do you slip into passive voice? Because passive voice is easy, and it’s sloppy, that’s why. Things happen, and you tell about what happened, yadda, yadda, yadda. Have you put the reader to sleep in the process? I look over some of the things I’ve written, and I cringe. Instead of engaging the reader, I see where I dumped information in globs. Bad form; sloppy writing.

Grammarly gives you options: You can use the basic mode and Grammarly checks for contextual spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and style. Or you can select plagiarism to learn whether you have inadvertently “borrowed” someone’s words and made them yours. There is a vocabulary enhancement function, which points out vague words that can be changed to another word or phrase to make the sentence stronger or clearer.

Grammarly will send you to a professional proofreader: I believe there is a charge for this service, but if you want another pair of eyes to look at your work, the option is there.

A caution here. Grammarly doesn’t do your work for you. You still must read your copy. The suggestions in Grammarly are just that, suggestions. As the writer, it’s up to you to accept or reject the program’s recommendations.

In summary this is a good product for writers whether you are writing a business letter, an op-ed piece for the local paper, a school paper, an essay or a book. Punctuation and grammar are the building blocks of written communication.

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Note: I am in no way affiliated with Grammarly.com. These are my thoughts based on my experience. There are other similar programs in the marketplace. I have not tried them.