Ferndale Tonight

 

Psalm 95 on my mind...

Today,
 if you hear God's voice,
 turn to Him not away.
Don't harden your heart,
don't dither 
      & go bitter 
              & isolate 
                 & what-if.
Turn to Him.
While it's still
Today.

 

I Haven't Forgotten Y'all . . .

Really. I'm not ignoring y'all -- it's just that fighting this dragon is really putting a hole in my days. Mouse-clicking, copy/paste, and post reading pretty much max me out. [Is it lurking if I'm on my sites?] Know that I'm still praying for you and there'll be more posting as I'm able.  ;^)  God be with you!

 

What are you working on?

In case you missed it...

What are you working on?

If someone asks you that, are you excited to tell them the answer?

I hope so. If not, you're wasting away.

No matter what your job is, no matter where you work, there's a way to create a project (on your own, on weekends if necessary), where the excitement is palpable, where something that might make a difference is right around the corner.

Hurry, go do that.

Posted by Seth Godin on December 18, 2010 | Permalink

I meet so many folks (even in ministry!) who answer this question with a job title not with a goal or a project. Sad, isn't it?
Trust me, life's too short. As Seth Godin points out, you need to solve this one...now.
Oh and don't make the mistake of assuming that the way you make a difference has to be the way you pay your bills.

 

Church, Honor Your Leaders (a meditation on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

Dear brothers & sisters, always -- but especially at this time of year -- honor the leaders who are working so hard for you, those whom God has given responsibility for urging and guiding you along in your obedience to Him. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

You'll never know how demanding their work can be or the price they pay for their service; never pass up an opportunity to show them that their efforts among you are not wasted. Embrace them and their families so that even those who came to you as strangers will have no doubt about your love and welcome.

Also make sure each of you does your part to get along among yourselves--when you don't, it makes leadership a burden you can't imagine.

 

God be with you and bless you all! -- db

 

One More Thanksgiving

This seemed especially appropriate this year. Thanks to a treatment we were trying, I spent last Thanksgiving and Christmas fighting a migraine, unable to even think about food, crawling around on the bathroom floor. (Isn't it funny how soothing that cold tile feels...?) 

Anyway, yesterday I was able to feast with my family and celebrate with some of you online. It was time worth savoring and I'm grateful:

May God be praised now and forever.
Let us praise our God of Whose bounty we have partaken
and through Whose goodness we live.
Praised be He, and praised be His name.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe:
You sustain the world with goodness,
with grace,
with love and mercy.

You give food to every creature,
for Your love endures forever.

Through Your great goodness, we have not lacked,
and may we never lack, our daily bread.

God is great;
He nourishes and sustains all,
and deals bountifully with all, providing food for all His creatures.
Blessed are You, Lord who provides food for all.

Sustain Jerusalem, the Holy City, now and forever.
Blessed are You, Yahweh,
Who in His grace builds Jerusalem.

May He Who makes peace on high,
make peace for us,
and for Israel, and all His people.

May God give strength to His people.
May God bless His people with peace.

Amen

(adapted from the Bir’khat haMazon,
the traditional Jewish Grace After the Meal)

 

Doors

I ran across this at Forbes:

When one DOOR CLOSES another DOOR OPENS;

                    but we often look so LONG

                                            and so REGRETFULLY

                     upon THE CLOSED DOOR

                that WE DO NOT SEE THE ONES

                        which OPEN FOR US.

– Alexander Graham Bell

What doors are you facing?

 

Help a Vet -- Project VALOUR-IT

It's that time again... The annual Project Valour-IT fundraiser has launched. What's that you say? Check this out from the Soldiers Angels website:

Project Valour-IT helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries.  Technology supplied includes:

  • Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.
  • Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).
  • Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.


    • This is an outstanding project that really makes a difference. Navy's goal this year is $15,000. Do what you can!
    (And of course I sent you to the Navy link! Duh. If that's a problem for you then here's the generic link for the project.

     

    Meditation
    God Almighty--He is Lord
    above us all.
    He is the only true refuge--He alone can save.
    He spoke and the result? All Creation!
    He faithfully preserves those who walk with Him.
    He communicates with anyone willing to listen.
    Other "spiritualties" are just distractions.
    You know that you know this!
    Isn't it time to turn and give Him your attention?
     

    Greatest Campaign Ad Ever?

    This just may be it:

    And what an endorsement!

     

    Has It Been 100 Years Already?

    From USA.gov

    When did Father's Day begin? Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:49:14 -0500
    Sunday, June 20, 2010, is the centennial celebration of Father's Day. Visit the FAQ at USA.gov for the history of the observance, a link to U.S. Census information on fathers, and more.

    What are y'all doing to mark the day?

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    To Posterous, Love Metalab