Revitalize Your Church

While digging through my father's old files, I found some interesting clippings from The Wesleyan Methodist Magazine .  These articles, written over five decades ago by Dr. Oliver G. Wilson, struck a deep chord with me.  Although culture has changed considerably since that time, the essence and need of humanity remains the same.  We all need to belong, to be loved, and to be encouraged.  This is true for all people at all times, in every culture. One delightful article told of Dr. Wilson’s friend who, driving down the street, saw a mallard sitting on the sidewalk. The gentleman was intrigued by the unusual sight.  He stopped his vehicle, got out and approached the sitting duck.   Alarmed, the duck sprang to his feet and started running as fast as his little ducky legs could carry him.  The man decided to follow the worried bird. Anxiously looking back over his shoulder, the terrified mallard ran faster, and the man sped up behind him. ...

Two people can experience the same event, yet see it in different ways. This happens all the time at accident scenes.  Eyewitnesses often give conflicting accounts.  The difference isn't in the facts -- but rather, in how the facts are interpreted. When writing books, I share many stories that involve other people.  My publisher makes me obtain permission from the people who are going to be in the book.  I send them the passage where they are mentioned and they usually reply, "I remember it a little differently." Then I respond, "Of course, it happened this way.  I recall it clearly." And they reply, "No, it happened like this. . ." So I go back do a bunch of editing until the story matches, at least to some degree,  how we both remember it. Why does this happen?  I'm not making things up.  I really remember it that way -- but we end up with different perspectives based on how we processed the event. We all have stori...

Today is a brand new day – a delightful opportunity to begin again. I will not be held hostage by yesterday’s pain. If my heart remains open, and my spirit is right, yesterday’s pain becomes today’s gain. I will grow into a better person through the sufferings. Today is a brand new day – and it needs to stand on it’s own. I will not allow myself to be seduced by yesterday’s success, nor frustrated by yesterday’s failures. I shall fulfill my duty this day, and never look backwards for an excuse. Today is a brand new day – and it’s the only one I have. I refuse to let tomorrow’s concerns steal today’s joy. If tomorrow is going to be bad – why should it destroy the day I have? That would mean two bad days instead of just one. I want to make the best of what has been given to me. Today is a brand new day – God’s gift for life investment. It is not to be squandered by worry or regret. Consider the moments. Moments are the stuff life is made of. They march by us ...

What kind of juice do you have in your tank? Lawnmowers and cars run on gasoline. Chainsaws and weed eaters run on a gas/oil mixture. Sailboats and kites run with the wind. Campfires run on wood -- And you run on one of two kinds of energy: positive or negative (or, more likely, a mixture of both.) What's the difference between running on positive vs. negative juice? 1. Negative juice is the "default" mode. If you don't deliberately  choose the positive path, you'll end up operating in the negative. We  are grumpy by nature -- and cheerful by choice. Nobody is positive by  accident -- It requires a strong commitment and a new way of thinking. 2. Running on negative juice is easier at first -- but much harder in  the long run. Since it is the default mode, you don't have to work at  becoming negative -- it just happens naturally! No extra effort is  required. However, those who operate with negative energy find that  life is much more diff...

The rain had ended. The sun was shining. A beautiful rainbow arched across the sky. "Isn't this a beautiful day?" the robin chirped contentedly. "That, my friend," said the snail, as he raised his mud-soaked face, "is a matter of perspective."

Don't let troubles trouble you. Problems are opportunities in disguise! Some of us are blessed with dozens of such opportunities. Perhaps you would like give a few of them to somebody else. We shouldn't really think it's strange when trials come. That's merely a part of the human condition. Trouble comes to everybody. Jesus Christ, himself, said, "In this world, you WILL have tribulation." The more responsibility you have, the more difficulty you will encounter. If your life is full of struggles, it means you are doing something right. A wise old bard once said, "You know when you are on the road to success -- it's uphill all the way!" The other day I thought I would drive to a place in town where there were no troubles. I couldn't go to the hospital -- problems there. I couldn't go to the bank -- problems there. Couldn't go to church either -- problems there. The only place I could find where the people didn't have problems was ...

To see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour. -- William Blake

A man that looks on glass, On it may stay his eye; Or if he pleaseth, through it pass, And then the heaven espy. -- George Herbert (I found this insightful poem, while reading Thoreau's, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers )

My friend Arthur Erickson, founder CEO of Urban Ventures, has graciously granted me permission to share this powerful article he wrote concerning our attitude towards the unfair things that happen in life. Life Is Not Fair: There are many things in life that are not fair. Life should be fair, when it is not, we mistakenly feel that this is wrong. It is wrong... But unfair things happen! When you are treated completely unfairly, you have an opportunity to become bitter or better. It is a choice you choose! A choice to give into the hurt, anger, resentment, bitterness cycle - our a choice to choose another option. The difference is in the letters I or E. If I choose to be self-centered and demand my rights, I become bitter (bItter). On the other hand, if I am willing to surrender my ego, the big I can change to better (bEtter). I must allow the values of eternity to guide me, and surrender The Big E. 10 years ago I happened to sit at a table next to Terry Anderson at the National Prayer ...

A poem by the literary great, John Milton: WHEN I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide, Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest He returning chide, 'Doth God exact day labor, light denied?' I fondly ask. But Patience to prevent That murmur soon replies, 'God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed, And post o'er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.'

Things are not always as they seem. The story is told of two angels who came to earth in disguise to interact with humans. Of course, this is just a tale – but it pays us to remember the biblical adage to be careful as we entertain strangers for we might be entertaining angels unaware. Well, these two angels stopped at a house and knocked at the door, hoping for some food and lodging. The residents of the house proved to be terribly rude and obnoxious. They were negative and greedy, giving barely (and resentfully) a crust of bread, and a very small serving of putrid water. Grudgingly, they allowed the strangers to spend the night, but made them sleep in the back room on a cold, hard floor without blankets or pillows. As the two angels prepared to turn in, they noticed a hole in the wall. One of the angels immediately went to the wall and began to patch it. He worked until the wall was completely repaired – smooth, without any evidence of the hole. “I sure don’t understand why you...