1 Jul
When searching for an odd smell in the kitchen, be sure to check underneath the over-the-sink cutting board to see if its the dish soaking on that side of the sink. The dish that held the chicken breast from last week.
I’m pretty sure Kristen Jones just threw up a little in her mouth reading this.
1 Jul
I’ve discovered Mental Reflection. Correction, she stumbled upon my blog and I checked out hers. I’m really enjoying it. Check out her post “Quote of the Day” for a taste.
1 Jul
I used to work in an office environment. This is the reason I cannot watch “The Office” television program. Flashbacks and PTSD. Anyway, I was the trainer for our administrative staff and occasionally, the sales staff on new forms, procedures, some technology etc. I can’t tell you how many times I would try to train a salesman on a new procedure and have him tell me it was stupid and that he was going to keep doing it his way anyway. At that point I had two options: 1. Agree with his attitude to avoid the conflict, then complain to the rest of the staff about the new procedure as well or 2. Stay positive, do my best to give the instruction, forward his feedback to my trainers. I chose #2.
Now in the above situation, I was the leader of the training but I had a leader over me who communicated the new procedure to me, why it was important, and how it would benefit both the sales staff and the company. My temptation was to avoid having to “fight” through the teaching so the salesman would still like me. My duty was to find the best way to communicate the benefits, encourage him to jump into unfamiliar territory, and be available for clarification. By choosing to follow my leader’s instructions, I could work through his fears and bring stability to the situation–which, by the way, is a better environment for learning. If I chose the, “yeah I know, but I’m supposed to teach you this stuff” route, I would have perpetuated division ending with our branch using two different systems. So, if I needed to train a new employee, I would have to teach them the current system and old system so they could function in either camp. Not good. I believe that’s called co-dependency–trying to keep everybody happy with you.
All this to say, if you are leading others in a vision passed along to you, follow your leader. Show respect. Do not undermine. If there are areas that truly aren’t working, don’t wallow and complain within your group or worse, to your customer! Take it back to your leader to evaluate and keep everyone working from the same page.
Hmm, sounds familiar. Have you ever had these things happen to you as a church volunteer? Certainly not in a church.
16 Jun
Hey gang. Two years ago, my brother-in-law Joe, had triple bypass surgery on his heart after years of wrecking his body with smoking and eating. The surgery was successful and his recovery remarkable. He quit smoking, radically changed his diet and continued some natural remedies(supplements, etc). He is diabetic and has had a setback here and there since.
Have I told you about my family’s communication system? It goes something like this: “Did I tell you that…” or “I thought Dad was going to call you.” I found out my sister had a baby about two weeks after he was born. So here is the latest in “Did anyone tell you…” from my family.
Joe needs a kidney transplant. I guess they have been researching this process since January. He has a large family and a couple of siblings are “perfect” matches. Even my sister is a match. He has some weight to lose first as he gained back a bit these last two years. Dialysis isn’t being considered at this point although a fistula was created in March in case he becomes critically ill quickly and forced to use dialysis. Could definitely use some prayers for expediency and success. Thanks.
7 Jun
June 8, 2001, our first daughter Madeline was born. She made quite an entrance and has continued to entertain these last 8 years. We celebrated one day early as Doug will be going to class tomorrow night. Long day. Scrambled to get things done but in the end, success. “Mom, all the presents I got was everything I always wanted. Especially the 3D chalk.” So that made me feel good.
Usually, the kids tell me what picture they want on their cake and what themed partyware they would like. Staying true to the day she was born, Maddie knew exactly what she wanted and who to tell about it. “Mom, on my cake, I want a ballerina dancer in a blue dress and a picture of me next to her. And I would like a great pegasus for my plates. The dancer should be holding my hand and flying on a pegasus.” OK, I like to accommodate but I had to draw the line. There would be no pegasus on the cake. Not enough room for two dancers, a happy birthday greeting and a pegasus. And I don’t have that kind of cake talent. In lieu of the non-existent pegasus plates, I found Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses. There’s GOT to be a pegasus in that movie. I ended up cutting out 3 dancer figures from an accessory on clearance and stood them in the cake. Phew, Maddie thought that was cool. Just hate to disappoint.
Wow, 8 years. And in that time…2 more kids, 2 new-to-us vehicles, 1 job, then 2, then 1, a Master’s degree, a stint with ESPN, loss of two grandparents, 2 friends & 2 neighbors, gain of 2 cousins and 2 2nd cousins, a few hospital stays, family crises and recovery, some money then none, terrorism, war, lost baby teeth, found grown up teeth. Looking at the world, 8 years seems so long. Looking at her, 8 years is a blink and a breath. Thanking God for keeping our family safe and healthy and proportionately dysfunctional in the best of ways.
29 May
Been reading critics of churches with this or that music/environment, pastors who wear or don’t wear the right clothes, teachers who gesture too much, not enough or oddly. And some of the analogies are silly to me. Like the line from The Princess Bride, “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.” We keep using these analogies but I don’t think they mean what we think they mean.
“If you were going to a formal dinner or a wedding, you would wear a suit and tie. Why do you(pastor) wear jeans at church?” — Church is not a formal dinner. Its a gathering of different people, in different places on their spiritual journey, with different tastes. If I’m overly concerned about someone’s wardrobe, I’m letting something stand in the way of my hearing a word from God. Pay attention to yourself. You’ll not have to answer for anyone else.
To be fair, I’m also tired of church people saying, “Jesus didn’t wear a suit and tie.” “Jesus wore sandals.” Duh. Pretty sure Armani was hard to find.
“We just don’t want to distract anyone from the message” — We can prepare and offer our best and still God will speak as He deems necessary to each one personally. Sometimes there are things you just have to let go. Obsessing over removing every little distraction is a distraction in itself.
I’m sure there’s more in my head but I’ve blathered on too long already. Perhaps another time.
28 May
My very good friend gave birth to a gorgeous baby boy last week. It’s their 3rd child and first boy. We received an invitation today. An excerpt…
It’s a boy!
Celebrate our bringing our son into the covenant with God through
circumsicion.For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised…My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.
Genesis 17:12-13
This is a traditional ceremony called B’Rit Milah or Bris in the
Jewish community.
So I emailed Doug the time and date and particulars. His reply follows.
I’m not sure I can…………… OUCH!!!!!
Seriously…….. I’m not sure I can……….
I know……. get over myself…………..
I’m not sure I can……………
What about the kids………….
So many thoughts…………..
d.
Now, I was not in the room at the hospital when my son was circumcised. I’m told he slept through it. Maybe Doug can come for the after party.
4 May
So I’m online trying to find out how to plan a birthday party at a local park. Bloody murder scream heard from Annaliese in the back yard calling my name. She’s a screamer anyway but this sounded more urgent. I hear barking dogs. Thinking she’s getting mauled, I run to the patio door, open it and run out. As does Champ but the S.O.B. undercuts me at the knees, throws me into the patio door where I proceed to fall on my behind right on the door tracks as well as scrape my achilles heel.
Meanwhile, I’m still thinking Annaliese is getting mauled. Nope. She has a near invisible scratch on her hand from a stick. Right now, writing this is the only thing keeping me from beating my dog with a 2 x 4 for knocking me over and interfering with my daughter’s rescue.
Be advised this is a rant. There are reasonable and logical things to say about everything that transpired in 120 seconds about 5 minutes ago. I don’t care. I’m hurt and my adrenalin is off the charts. I’m still trying to convince my brain that no, Annaliese is not being mauled by the neighbor dogs who sometime jump the fence. My dog is in his crate. The kids are in their rooms.
OK, ready to head into the girls’ room with a calmer, cooler head, and stop the unauthorized glitter makeover.
23 Apr
Head cold is fully developed. Real Sudafed didn’t work. Trying Claritin D generic. So basically I have a bad cold that’s not bad enough to call in sick to work but just right to give me a miserable Thursday.
Yet, there have been some moments of coolness today that I can only describe as the mercy of God! For instance:
Not bad for the first 9 hours of my day. But then again, we haven’t started homework yet! 
