"Life's too short to take the ugly way home."
I am loving that quote this week.
What does it mean to you?
Loving Words As Usual,
Lonnie
"Health Care You Can Live With"
by Dr. Scott Morris
p.62-71
So far an excellent read, and pleasantly different than I expected.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Hororscopes?
"We're going to start our meeting with some fun! We're going to look at our zodiac signs!"
Whoa God! Where do I go with "that?"
The meeting included about 10 people seated in a circle. Besides under the table, there was no place to hide.
This was prefaced with, "We don't believe in this; it's just for fun." Those are the very words I excused myself with in my B.C. days. And yet -- I let my horoscope (or Quija board, or tea leaves) affect my mood. Horoscopes raised or lowered my hope quotient. So what was it I didn't believe?
I learned early on, in my Christian walk, that these things (see Deuteronomy 18:14) displeased God. Honestly, future telling and personality casting were hard to give up. I wanted to know that I was of value and I wanted to know that my future held marriage and other good things.
But my value is in this:
Jesus died for me.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am God's workmanship . . . created for good works that He's planned, in advance, for me to do. (I have purpose.)
Jeremiah 29:11 tells me that God knows the plans He has for me -- that I might have a future and a hope.
God, sometimes, I look at my life and think that I have barely left the starting block in my Christian race. But here is one area where You have moved mightily. Thank you.
When my turn came, to share what my zodiac sign was, I said, "I pass." No drama, no sermon, but I believe it is what I was to do -- remain faithful to God's Word.
Share a similar work experience or share something that God has brought you out of.
Growing in faithfulness,
Growing in courage,
Because He enables me to do so,
Lonnie
See: Romans 5:8
Psalm 139: 13-18
Ephesians 2:10
Jeremiah 29: 11
Whoa God! Where do I go with "that?"
The meeting included about 10 people seated in a circle. Besides under the table, there was no place to hide.
This was prefaced with, "We don't believe in this; it's just for fun." Those are the very words I excused myself with in my B.C. days. And yet -- I let my horoscope (or Quija board, or tea leaves) affect my mood. Horoscopes raised or lowered my hope quotient. So what was it I didn't believe?
I learned early on, in my Christian walk, that these things (see Deuteronomy 18:14) displeased God. Honestly, future telling and personality casting were hard to give up. I wanted to know that I was of value and I wanted to know that my future held marriage and other good things.
But my value is in this:
Jesus died for me.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I am God's workmanship . . . created for good works that He's planned, in advance, for me to do. (I have purpose.)
Jeremiah 29:11 tells me that God knows the plans He has for me -- that I might have a future and a hope.
God, sometimes, I look at my life and think that I have barely left the starting block in my Christian race. But here is one area where You have moved mightily. Thank you.
When my turn came, to share what my zodiac sign was, I said, "I pass." No drama, no sermon, but I believe it is what I was to do -- remain faithful to God's Word.
Share a similar work experience or share something that God has brought you out of.
Growing in faithfulness,
Growing in courage,
Because He enables me to do so,
Lonnie
See: Romans 5:8
Psalm 139: 13-18
Ephesians 2:10
Jeremiah 29: 11
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Temptation
It seems to me, that every temptation is an "opportunity" to be faithful to God.
Do you agree?
Thanking God that "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15 NIV)
Lonnie
Do you agree?
Thanking God that "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15 NIV)
Lonnie
Monday, February 7, 2011
Leader, Leader, Why Can't I Follow?
Cheri showed me, too many times, how to reconcile the cash register at the end of the day. I didn’t get it! Was I just dumb? I was relieved to discover that intelligence wasn’t the issue. Style was.
I needed a different teacher – one with a slightly different approach to the same task; one with a more phlegmatic personality. Was Cheri wrong? No. The way she showed me just didn’t click. Craig showed me once and it all made sense. My confidence and skills grew quickly. In hindsight, I suspect Cheri was a visual learner. And I’ve since learned that I’m a hands-on person. Telling me or showing me steals every ounce of confidence I possess. I just don’t get it. Craig’s leadership style, neither right nor wrong, better suited my personality.
I’ve been reconciling cash registers, now, for 30 years. It’s a job I particularly enjoy. One that gives me great satisfaction when it comes out to the penny.
Boss Andrea was tremendously fun to work with, yet her expectations overwhelmed me and made me feel unappreciated. Not because I couldn’t complete the tasks; I just couldn’t complete them all at once. Before I’d barely started one assignment, she gave me two more.
Boss Kimberly, seeing a backlog of work, told me to do the best I could but not to worry about what I didn’t get done. Who did I work harder for? Kimberly. I hoped to surprise her, to give her a day less buried with work than she expected. My team members expressed their increased motivation to please her. They, too, felt appreciated.
That being said, there are people who would take advantage of no clear set goals. They’d give themselves permission to surf the web, manicure their nails, or whatever.
What type of leader do you need? Who are you most likely to follow? Is it your responsibility to “Follow the Leader,” no matter what her style tendencies are? Or is it your leader’s responsibility to determine what motivates you and lead accordingly?
Who are your leaders? Parents—Teachers—Spouses—Pastors—Bosses—Committee Leaders?
Please share your thoughts and experiences.
As Always – Growing,
Lonnie
I needed a different teacher – one with a slightly different approach to the same task; one with a more phlegmatic personality. Was Cheri wrong? No. The way she showed me just didn’t click. Craig showed me once and it all made sense. My confidence and skills grew quickly. In hindsight, I suspect Cheri was a visual learner. And I’ve since learned that I’m a hands-on person. Telling me or showing me steals every ounce of confidence I possess. I just don’t get it. Craig’s leadership style, neither right nor wrong, better suited my personality.
I’ve been reconciling cash registers, now, for 30 years. It’s a job I particularly enjoy. One that gives me great satisfaction when it comes out to the penny.
Boss Andrea was tremendously fun to work with, yet her expectations overwhelmed me and made me feel unappreciated. Not because I couldn’t complete the tasks; I just couldn’t complete them all at once. Before I’d barely started one assignment, she gave me two more.
Boss Kimberly, seeing a backlog of work, told me to do the best I could but not to worry about what I didn’t get done. Who did I work harder for? Kimberly. I hoped to surprise her, to give her a day less buried with work than she expected. My team members expressed their increased motivation to please her. They, too, felt appreciated.
That being said, there are people who would take advantage of no clear set goals. They’d give themselves permission to surf the web, manicure their nails, or whatever.
What type of leader do you need? Who are you most likely to follow? Is it your responsibility to “Follow the Leader,” no matter what her style tendencies are? Or is it your leader’s responsibility to determine what motivates you and lead accordingly?
Who are your leaders? Parents—Teachers—Spouses—Pastors—Bosses—Committee Leaders?
Please share your thoughts and experiences.
As Always – Growing,
Lonnie
Fiction Is Not Always Frivolous
I was teased, growing up, because every book I read had a nurse in it. As I think back, I'm guessing those books were Harlequin romances. That tease may have seemed unkind, but it changed my life. I began trying to read more meaningful books. It wasn't an easy transition, as I'm not the intellectual type. But I did find great joy in biographies and later in antique history books.
Dad, too, talked about how ridiculous novels were because they weren't true. In his last years, he discovered historical fiction and enjoyed it tremendously.
For the most part, I'm still stuck in non-fiction because it's what I "choose" not because I worry about what anyone thinks. However, I occasionally find myself in need of a story -- one that pulls me along to the last page. Plus, I've discovered that fiction is not so frivolous; it has much to teach and often, it's a great way to share the Lord and current issues.
Here's a clip from a recent novel. I'd love your thoughts as the issue is something that's been on my back burner for a couple years. When I vote, similar thoughts play tag in my mind.
(Takes place during fights for Prohibition and Women's Right to Vote) Grandma Bebe fought for Prohibition. The following is a discussion with her grand-daughter, Harriet. (Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin/Bethany House Publishers 2009, p. 424-5)
"You're right, I have worked hard to make certain that alcohol was banned. I've devoted my entire life to temperance because I saw how much pain and suffering alcohol caused. But you know what? Every day now I read in the paper about the crime spree that Prohibition caused, and I wonder if I've been fighting the wrong battle all these years."
"What do you mean?"
"Jesus' harshest words were for the moral guardians of His day--the Pharisees. They wanted to dictate morality, too, but Jesus called them hypocrites whitewashed tombs. It isn't our calling as Christians to write laws that force people to live moral lives . . . that's our calling--to bring people to Christ--not to force them to behave the way we want them to or to solve all their external problems."
What do you think? Do we need to campaign? Or pray? Or both? Has God given individuals different calls to cover both sides of the coin? What does God's Word say?
Anxious to Hear Your Thoughts,
Lonnie
Check out lynnaustin.org for more about this cool author and upcoming books.
Dad, too, talked about how ridiculous novels were because they weren't true. In his last years, he discovered historical fiction and enjoyed it tremendously.
For the most part, I'm still stuck in non-fiction because it's what I "choose" not because I worry about what anyone thinks. However, I occasionally find myself in need of a story -- one that pulls me along to the last page. Plus, I've discovered that fiction is not so frivolous; it has much to teach and often, it's a great way to share the Lord and current issues.
Here's a clip from a recent novel. I'd love your thoughts as the issue is something that's been on my back burner for a couple years. When I vote, similar thoughts play tag in my mind.
(Takes place during fights for Prohibition and Women's Right to Vote) Grandma Bebe fought for Prohibition. The following is a discussion with her grand-daughter, Harriet. (Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin/Bethany House Publishers 2009, p. 424-5)
"You're right, I have worked hard to make certain that alcohol was banned. I've devoted my entire life to temperance because I saw how much pain and suffering alcohol caused. But you know what? Every day now I read in the paper about the crime spree that Prohibition caused, and I wonder if I've been fighting the wrong battle all these years."
"What do you mean?"
"Jesus' harshest words were for the moral guardians of His day--the Pharisees. They wanted to dictate morality, too, but Jesus called them hypocrites whitewashed tombs. It isn't our calling as Christians to write laws that force people to live moral lives . . . that's our calling--to bring people to Christ--not to force them to behave the way we want them to or to solve all their external problems."
What do you think? Do we need to campaign? Or pray? Or both? Has God given individuals different calls to cover both sides of the coin? What does God's Word say?
Anxious to Hear Your Thoughts,
Lonnie
Check out lynnaustin.org for more about this cool author and upcoming books.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Profanity
Please allow me a 15 second vent, then share your thoughts with me.
What in the world is professional about four-letter words? Three sentences into a book (on happiness mind you) I ran across the f-word.
Sometime back, I picked up a book by a 4-star General that I'd admired. One of his chapter titles included profanity. Good thing we don't pay for library books, or I'd be venting even more.
A volunteer at my library requested a book that we both thought would be fun. She said the story was cute but she returned the book. Too many untasty words. Why?
Used like "and" the f-word seems to have become a conjunction, required to maintain some sort of ugly unity in a book.
What is it that makes authors think they can dazzle readers with offensive language? Or have we grown so dull that it doesn't offend anymore?
A Little Crabby Today,
Lonnie
What in the world is professional about four-letter words? Three sentences into a book (on happiness mind you) I ran across the f-word.
Sometime back, I picked up a book by a 4-star General that I'd admired. One of his chapter titles included profanity. Good thing we don't pay for library books, or I'd be venting even more.
A volunteer at my library requested a book that we both thought would be fun. She said the story was cute but she returned the book. Too many untasty words. Why?
Used like "and" the f-word seems to have become a conjunction, required to maintain some sort of ugly unity in a book.
What is it that makes authors think they can dazzle readers with offensive language? Or have we grown so dull that it doesn't offend anymore?
A Little Crabby Today,
Lonnie
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