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.

Screen-saver...

My 5 year old was watching my computer and saw my screen-saver come on. It's the typical Windows XP Pro screen-saver; makes my mac look like windows to the casual glance.

"Daddy, do you know what a screen-saver does?" He asked.
"What?" I ask wanting to know what's inside his head.
"It keeps the screen from getting board." he says with all the authority of his less than 5 years of knowledge.

Do you have a spiritual screen-saver? You know, something that keeps your spirit from getting board? Something that keeps your soul alive and well?

What would this spiritual screen-saver be like? Here are some things I've heard over the years.
"I study the bible for 2 hours every day."
"I pray for at least 1 hour in the morning before my day starts."
"I pray 3 times each day."

While I applaud such vigilant and pious people, I'm not capable of doing any of these. It's hard for me to sit and read a very interesting story for more than 15 minutes. To pray for an hour in the morning would be awesome. I'd probably spend about 5 minutes praying and 55 minutes dozing. Although praying 3 times a day is commendable, I'd probably miss quite a few times due to some unexpected customer demands on my time.

So, there goes the screen-saver for me. To most, I appear as a liberal christian, not very strict in my "Practice" of christianity. I read things that I shouldn't read, I question the status quo, and challenge the traditional thinking of my church. So, it would appear that this is my spiritual screen-saver.

Everyday you are faced with choices. Everyday you choose this or that, buy it or not, believe that or not. Everyday, you have a unique opportunity to choose God's way or your way. In fact, I'd be bold enough to say, that is the only thing you can do. I mean the choosing. We already know that you can't earn your salvation or the favor of God, so your sole responsibility is to make choices. Joshua in the bible said it so nicely, "Choose today whom you will serve. As for me and my family, we will serve God."

So, today, when your blood pressure starts to climb, and you feel the boiling anger; when you feel the pull of a beautiful person and you know it's not right, just tell God you choose his way, and that He will have to help you DO HIS WAY.

Happy spiritual screen-saving...

Home alone 2

Got a few more thoughts now that I've passed the 12 hour mark.

Pretty much missing Tiff. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but that is only true after you've been together for quite some time.

I can see why Tiff is tired by the end of the day. Just being around high energy makes me tired. And to think I used to have that much energy.

Supper was a hugh success. Tiff's copious notes said "Improvise". So I gave them everything in the house. No, I didn't we had a smorgasboard of chips, banana chips, dip, fried rice and some fun.

Does God think of us all the time? I find my thoughts continually turning to Tiff. I miss her so much. The things that frustrate me, I wish for them just to be near her. Does God have feelings like that for us?

Home Alone 1

So, today I'm home alone with the boys. Here's a brief description of how it is going. (Through lunch and into Clifford the Dog on PBS)
Wake up at 5:30: Yea! I can do it.
6:30: Get going, so this day can happen.
8:00: Get breakfast on so Tiff an go.
8:30: Not sure this was such a good idea. I head seeing her go.
9:00: Well, Breakfast is finally over. I'm doing great!
10:00: Whining and fussing from Bugzy
11:00: Finally go outside to jump on the Tramp.
11:30: Quick trip to the farm to get a Miter Saw. More Whining and fussing from Bugzy.
11:40: Wondering just why I thought this day was a good idea.
11:45: Wondering how Tiff gets through all the whining, fussing and constant talking.
12:00: Tiff phones. Probably wondering how lunch is. We're still at the farm.
12:30: Getting lunch. Just about to panic. Should have started this 1 hour earlier. Time sure goes quickly.
12:45: Thinking I'm pretty good at this Mr. Mom stuff.
1:00: Sure miss Tiff. She makes it much more enjoyable to be home.
1:30: Finally get Peanut down for a nap. Start Clifford for Bugzy.
1:45: Get to sit down for a bit and rest.

Conclusion: Tiff is a real home maker. I'm just the imitation. She has a hard time leaving, I think I'm better at leaving each day. yes, its hard, but somebody has to do it.

Question: I wonder what emotions God has while waiting for us to be ready to come home to him.

Random Accuracy

Putting up a coat rack in the basement. Tapped out all along the wall, and couldn't find any stud near the middle of the proposed spot. Picked out where to put the molly screws, and drilled the holes. What are the odds that one could land dead-center on the hidden stud?

With God guiding your hand, nothing is impossible. No, nothing; not even finding the invisible stud in the wall.

The coat rack is up, two screws into the studs, and one molly. Isn't god awesome?

Ask and it shall be given

Yesterday was an average day that contained an amazing encounter with the hand of my God. I prayed yesterday morning during my 40 minute commute to work that God would line up the day so I could be home before sundown. Here's how it happened.

The morning was slow, but about 11:30 the boss asked me if I would go with him after lunch to connect a computer to a wireless network. Sure, no problem! Let me know when. After lunch, I had a service call to a clinic. That was short, quick and easy. About 2:00, my alarm sounded for the next service call. I checked with the boss. He was busy, better get my service call out of the way. So off I went. 45 minutes later I'm back at the store. I checked with the boss again. Still busy. I went to my desk, and puttered with some web stuff. Somewhere about 3:30 I started talking with God a bit. It would take about 15 minutes to go, 15 minutes to come, and the work could take an hour if things went badly. I needed to leave for home by, oh, 4:50 at the latest. We're pushing for time now. I told God that I was still counting on Him. 3:45 I checked with the boss again. He looked at me, then at his watch and said the following. "I can't go today. I just don't have the time." Ok, no problem.

I ended up leaving on another service call just a few minutes later. It hit me as I was driving down the road, God just did his GOD thing again. You know, that thing he does when he keeps his promises and fulfills one of our requests? He had done it again. I was going to be able to be home before sundown. It is so inspiring to see the hand of the greatest being in the universe. It is humbling to know that he notices even me, and even more humbling He is willing to re-arrange the boss's schedule for me.

Incidentally, I checked out of work at 4:50 and was home by 5:35.

Teach my wonderin' feet...

"Teach my wonderin' feet to walk beside you. Steady on!" The song is by Point Of Grace, and the album is their 24 Disk 2. Awesome song. How many times we've wandered from what we know to be right and truth.

My prayer this early morning is just those words. "Teach my wonderin' feet to walk beside you." God so help me.

I heard the angles sing...

Tonight I heard the angels sing. Both boys, the wife and myself. we sang, and it sounded awesome. The song was "Into My Heart". For the first time, all of us were singing. Usually, its just daddy and mommy with one of the boys off and on. Just makes me love having kids.
I wonder if God sings with us when we sing? You think He might?

He's going to be a UPS driver...

Yes, I think my youngest will be a UPS truck driver. You know how I know? He loves trucks, always points them out to me. You should hear him. "Daddy! Daddy!" he says with an excited earnestness. "Come look!" And then he exclaims, "A TRUCK!!!!!!!!" Said with all the excitement a 2 year old knows how to muster up.

Every morning as I'm heading out the door, he grabs up an imaginary package and hands it to me saying, "Daddy! Daddy! here! A package for you!" What can I say? "OK, I'll put it here." I stuff the imaginary box into my pocket. Two more packages later, I'm finally out the door. Yes, it's easy to say, my youngest is going to be a UPS delivery guy. He loves trucks and always gives me packages.

I wonder if God would play along with us if we were to try to give Him packages. What if we were to play these little games with him? Maybe start by giving our hearts? Giving our troubles? That problem that's been nagging at you, give that to Him. "God! God! Here. A package for you!" Do you think it would bring a smile to the GREAT-ALL-MIGHTY? One thing is certain, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in." (Matthew 18:3 - Message) That's the words of Jesus.

Popups...I hate them.

If hate is not the right word, then despise is a better one. It seems that some companies will stop and nothing to push advertising to YOU!! Yes, I'm pointing my finger in your direction. Well, it seems that tagboard for blogger.com is infected with the need to generate pop-ups on websites where their scripts are installed.

So, for those of you who visited my blog over the last couple of days, I'm sorry for the popups. Blame tagboard as once their scripts are removed the popups go away.

Kind of makes me think of the way Satan operates in our lives. He takes advantage of everything he can to the benefit of his cause. However, enter God on the scene. He is only out for our best interest. So, who will you follow? I'm choosing GOD. No popups, thank you!

They do exist...

Taking my lunch at the radio station has become somewhat routine. For those of you who don't know, I manage a local Low-Power FM radio station. Just the other day I was wondering if we have any listeners out there. Having not heard from any listeners lately, it seems that we broadcast only to the wind and non-existant prairie dogs.

Today, I arrived at the station just about 12:10. About 2 minutes after I walked in, the telephone rang. I checked the caller ID, and there was a name I didn't recognize. I answered, and the caller was asking about a song that she had heard on the air. I gave her the information and thanked her for listening. After I hung up, I realized that call was just for me. God was sending me another message letting me know that this station is doing good.

So, radio listeners do exist, and as the bible says, "So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit." Galatians 6:9 (Message)

Password: FAITH

Was making a service call and the particular user was not at their computer. So we made up a password for them. We used FAITH. The reason was that everywhere around that office were little notes and quotes expressing faith. Here is the one from the keyboard.

"Sorrow looks back; worry looks around; faith looks up." No author was listed. But think on that one. If you're worried, where are you looking? If you are sad and depressed, where are you looking? I'm not saying that it is bad to be sorrowful, but we should not be lost in sorrow or worry. We should always keep our eyes on God.

There's the challenge for today. Keep your eyes on God.

Miracle in 5!

Finally making it to the last of the customers who need their equipment changed to accommodate the new polarization. One customer was a christian school. They are the only one on the north side of this tower. A side affect of our fix to the wireless issue is that we didn't have enough equipment to cover north from the tower. Several months ago, I had already tried all our various systems at this location, and I knew full well that they just weren't going to be able to get on. I went up today to make one more attempt at putting them back on 2.4GHz.

I got to the site and upon inspecting the radio noticed that the signal strength meter showed 2 out of 3 bars signal. That was curious so I rotated the antenna 90 degrees, and the signal went to 3 out of 3 bars. I plugged in my laptop, and I was off to the races. Speeds were not the best I've seen, but they were acceptable.

I walked away from that just shaking my head. How can they be on the internet when there is no signal pointed their direction? They are drawing off the back side of a panel antenna. I told the registrar, "God must want you on the internet."

God is capable of more than we think. He is only limited by our willingness to have him involved in our lives. So, get on the God bandwagon. Allow him full control and you'll see more than you've ever dreamed of.

Jesus has owie!

Getting the kids ready for bed tonight, and my little 2 year old says, "Daddy, Jesus has owie!" He was looking at a picture of Jesus holding a little child. It was my favorite picture growing up, and now it is the favorite in our house too. I replied, "Yes, he got that owie because mommie's and daddies and little girls and little boys were naughty. That's why Jesus got that owie."

Have you ever thought of that? Jesus got hurt because we were naughty. Sometimes, great bible truths become crystal clear when seen through the eyes of a child.
"I don't want Jesus to get any more owies because of me. Do you?"

Polarity Matters

Spent the day today working over our wireless system in the 900MHz range. Sent a tower climber up the tower twice today. Found out that even in a non-line of sight frequencies, polarity matters. We've been running vertical and once we switched to horizontal and things started working.

Got me to thinking. In life, there is an entity which always sets up camp next door and attempts to drown out our communication with our heavenly father. When we are distracted by the things around us (horizontally polarized) we can't hear God. We need to take some time to get ourselves tuned back into God (vertically polarized) and then we'll be back where we should be.

The equipment I was working on today can't fix its self. The cool thing is that we can't fix ourselves but God can help us get set right with Him.