Inspired by Jeff's Blog...

Found the following on the blog of a friend of my wife's friend. (hows that for relationsip) I don't know this guy from Adam, but since he'll be in heaven, I will get to meet him then.

IDEA: Innovation.
Tom Peters says that innovation is the key.

Here's a quote from the CNN.com article:

"The only way we're going to survive is to innovate our way out of the box," he told a recent conference audience. "We're down to one idea, which is innovation."


According to Peters, sitting at the very heart of this tumultuous change is the individual. Only by encouraging original thought and "nurturing the freaks" will companies have the skills and drive needed to grow.

He points out that history is made, not by normal people, but by the "freaks" who dare to think differently and stand out from the herd. The companies who encourage individual thinking and endeavor will be the ones that succeed.

For Peters, one of the worst crimes an individual can commit is to sit on the sidelines and watch. "You have to be involved to make a difference in the world," he says.

Now that you have read the post, my thoughts are that the worst thing that you can do spiritually speaking is to sit on the sidelines and watch. When it comes to things spiritual, we can't be waiting and hoping something happens. We do need to be communicating with God and tieing ourselves in with Him.

Yes, you will seem like a spiritual freek, but thats not bad. We need to be a bit different than the croud. We know that the croud isn't saved because they are a croud, it is the individual that is saved.

So, to all the spiritual freeks who love God with all their hearts and have the overwhealming desire to do everything God asks of them, more of God's power to you.

Of black and blue and pain too...

Monday past I was asked by a friend to come and help catch up with spring work. Because I inherited the helping gene, the only answer that came out was yes. So, I found myself riding horse and holding calves while my friend did the cowboy things that he does. After lunch with him, his wife and their oldest son, it was back to work. This time it was sorting yearlings.

For those of you who are not ranchers, here is the definition of a yearling. Teenager left alone with their friends and no parents. Got the picture? These 1 year old calves were to be run through the shut to receive their shots, then sorted into two groups. We were on the last group of calves. These were the black ones. I was warned that they can kick, so I was being careful. I didn't actually get into the chute with them, I was standing on the side panel at about tail hight so that they couldn't get me. I was wrong, these 4 1/2 foot tall, 500 or 600 foot pound teenagers can kick higher than they stand. They also have pretty good aim. I have a black and blue foot to prove it.

Hobbling to work the next two days has made me do some thinking. The bible warns us to be careful that the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion. Translate that verse into todays rancher language would say it like this. Be careful of the devil. He's waiting to get you like a black calf in the chute. He's trying to find someone to kick. I wonder how many of us have been kicked just once by the black devil and now are hobbling around on black and blue spiritual feet. Oh, yes, did I mention pain? This foot hurts. So does a spiritual foot when you've been kicked around.

However, unlike my real foot, we have a spiritual doctor who can speak one word and our spiritual hurt will be all gone. While Jesus is doing the healing, it is our jobs to find the spiritually hurt and help as much as we can. For bruises, Lavender oil works wonders, so does spiritual lavender oil. Some understanding, some empathy, and a whole lot of love will help heal the wounds.

Todays challenge? Find the wounded, and help heal them. It's awesome work, and the rewards last forever.

All my mothers...

Since Mothers' day is always so busy, I'm bloggin about it today. I'm one of the few privileged people to have all my mothers yet.

I can hear you ask, "All your mothers?" Yes, I still have my mom. My dad is still married to her, but I have my Grand mother on my mom's side, and my Grand mother on my dad's side. However, that's not all.

Since getting married some 8 years ago, I have my favorite mother-in-law, and her mother too. That's all the mothers one needs I dare say, but there are some who have more. Take a wild guess, and you'll see what I mean.

However, I am closer to the women in my family than I am to the men. That is due to a great degree to the love, care and tenderness my mom shows me. I can remember growing up with awful diseases that one can't spell or pronounce, but my mom took us to Africa because God asked her to go with my dad. Somehow she didn't let any of us in on any stress that she was feeling. However, one incident still makes me smile and laugh to this day.

Imagine having to live with just what you can pack into your suitecases. Imagine having to do that for 8 months while you wait for the rest of your stuff to arrive. I remember the day the big ocean going container arrived infront of our house. I remember the hugh smile on my mom's face along with all the tears. I couldn't figure out then why mom would cry when this was an awesome event. I guess that was just one little expression of her feelings.

That's my mom! Never complaining, always looking to Jesus, and always staying hand in hand with her husband. She's been the ultimate example of faithfulness, even when she stumbles. She's had sickness, and she's had health. She's had good times and bad. But through it all, she keeps looking forward to heaven. That's my inspiration.

That would be thee end of this little story if I didn't have a mother-in-law (mil). My mother-in-law is proof that God knows best when left to his own devices. Had he given me any other MIL. If I had been picking, I certainly wouldn't have done a better job. She is another woman who leaves an example of love and concern for her children. She has the energy of 3 dozen of them pink bunnies (I think they're called energizer bunnies), and yet she always finds time for her grand children. She's always sharing, always helping, always being faithful as she knows how to God's calling in her life. She is proof that a man needs a women in his life. She's precious, and the best mother-in-law in the whole world.

I can't finish without putting in something for the mother whom I'm closes to. She's my wife. Out of all the women in this world, God picked her for me, and she's just perfect. Her skills as a mother are unmatched. Her attention to detail, her self-sacrificing spirit, and her desire to see her children grow up to be responsible God-fearing adults is so awesome to watch. I appreciate her more than any other. My love for her is forever.

God, you know how to give good gifts, especially when it comes to mothers.

And there's another one...

Think you're alone in your walk with God? Do you wish for others who share your intense desire for God? You're not alone. Today I had a marvelous conversation with another who is excited about God, but has given up on some of the cultural views of God the older generation has painted. I was making a purely technical call, and somehow found a fellow believer who shares a passion for connecting with Christ.
Since I live where cows outnumber people, it is easy to think that I'm alone in my walk with God. I sometimes wonder if I'm developing some crazy strain of an extreme religion which could be labeled "radical" or "Strange". But then, God puts in my path, people who encourage, people who share the same views, and the same passion for getting ready for heaven.
So, to all those out there who see God like I do, come on, lets infect others with this awesome God who loves and cares for us more than words can ever say. Keep your chin up, and unlike Peter, KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS. He's your only hope to get through this maze we call life.

Here's a testimony

The Alphabet Prayer

A little shepherd boy was watching his sheep one Sunday morning and he heard the bells of the church ringing. As he watched the people walk along the pasture where he was, he happened to think to himself, "I would like to communicate with God! But, what can I say to God?" He had never learned a prayer.

So, on bended knee, he began to recite the alphabet. Repeating this prayer several times, a man passing by, heard the boy's voice and peaked through the bushes. He saw the young boy kneeling with folded hands, eyes closed, repeating the alphabet.

He interrupted the boy. "What are you doing, my little one?" he asked.

The boy replied, "I was praying sir." The man seemed surprised and said, "But why are you reciting the alphabet?" The boy explained, "I don't know any prayers, sir. But I want God to take care of me, and to help me care for my sheep. And so I thought, if I said all I knew, He could put the letters together into words, and He would know all that I want and should say!"

The man smiled and said, "Bless your heart, God will!" And he went on to church knowing full well that he had heard the finest sermon he could possibly hear that day.

Author Unknown

Source: The Inspired Buffalo,
mailto:the-inspired-buffalo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

I enjoy praying the following "A,B,C" prayer. I start my prayer with the letter "A". I think of all the people I know who have a name starting with that letter. As I think of each name I ask God to bless them and pray for any of their needs that come to mind. When I run out of "A" names I move on to "B" and so on. I have found this to work well while I have nothing else to do such as: waiting, driving, while going to sleep, etc. - Richard Wimer :o)

Taken from WITandWISDOM(tm) which is available free by e-mail Monday through Friday. Visit http://witandwisdom.org for more information.

Today: Get run over...

Something you'll never have on your schedule. It will surprise you every time, and even give you a bit if an adrenaline rush.
It happened today, and true to form, it totally surprised me. After lunch I was leaving a building after fixing a printer. I stepped from behind the 6ft retaining wall along side the stairs and saw this thing coming at me. My mind identified the object as a bicycle with curly haired brown rider. I started stepping back, but it was moving too fast. Kaboom, it hit, knocking me backwards onto my hands and then right elbow.
My first thought was "Is the rider all right?". My second thought was am I alright.
As I got back into the car, I started thanking God for keeping me safe. I am thankful that I was not seriously injured.

I've been thinking about the incident and wondering if anyone in my church might have been run over lately. You know what I mean. A well-meaning church member "corrects" some outward "imperfection" of a younger member or even a visitor. Kaboom, the person gets run over. It was not intentional, and probably was true. However, it was not what should have been done at that moment, and probably could have been done a bit more tactfully.
I challenge you to find the "run-over" in your circle of influence and try to mend the wounds. Perhaps, you'll be able to keep another child of God from giving up on Him.