You may be the only church some people ever know.
Let me repeat that: You may be the only church some people ever know.
What do you think when you hear that?
Some people grow up in church. They grow up in church and become disillusioned. That's right, disillusioned. They see what they call hypocrites. People who act one way on Sunday but show a totally different side of themselves to the world the rest of the week. They may grow up in church and see a double standard. People not treated the same. As they grow older, they drift away from church. They do not want any part of this behavior.
Some people have not been given the opportunity to grow up in a church. They don't grow up hearing the stories of Moses, Noah and Joseph. They know there is a right and a wrong. They may or may not have heard of Jesus and the sacrifice He made for them. The ultimate sacrifice. The sacrifice that gives everyone of us the ability to choose an eternal life.
Some people will never step foot inside a church. They go through life observing. They observe what people do. You may be one of the people they are observing. They may think of you as doing 'the church thing'. They know you believe in God. They know you go to church on Sunday. They know you participate and help with numerous activities at your church. They don't question; they just observe what you do.
The people you see in the grocery store, the hair place, the library, at work, in your neighborhood also observe. These people may know you very well. Some may only know you by sight. But everyone of them observes. They observe the way you talk. They observe the way you act. They observe the way you treat other people. They observe where you place your priorities.
Yes, you are the church. You are the church when you go to work. Your co-workers probably know your religious beliefs. They know how you spend your spare time. You spend a large majority of your week with your co-workers. What does your attitude at work convey to them?
You are the church to the people in your neighborhood. They observe what you do. They observe how you treat people.
To the people you see where ever you go; you are the church. They don't eavesdrop on your conversations but they can't help but overhear. They hear if you gossip, they hear if you swear. They hear if you use kind words and a gentle voice. You are the church they observe.
You are the church. Do you present a demeanor that tells others you are at peace in your life? Do you show by your attitude that you are blessed? Can others look at you and know that you have something they want? It's a choice everyone makes. Are you presenting yourself as the church in your daily life?
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Signs of Spring
Yesterday was the first day of Spring. How can you tell it's Spring? I'm going to list ways that it's possible to know that Spring has arrived.
1) 95% of your friends on Facebook will post a notice that it is the first day of Spring. This is for everyone who does not own a calendar or any other form of data advising them that Spring has arrived.
2) For a week you will see notices on Facebook of what your friends are doing on Spring Break. These may or may not be family-friendly notices. They may or may not be appropriate for everyone to see.
3) People in the Midwestern part of the country will experience various ranges of weather. This may be 70 degrees and sunny one day with two inches of snow the following day.
4) People will decide to clean up their yards. This involves raking and bagging the leaves that should have been cleaned up last fall. This might result in the discovery of a hibernating snake. Should this occur, the aforementioned person will quickly abandon any thought of cleaning up their yard.
5) Shorts and flip-flops will appear. This is wishful thinking as the shorts and flip-flops will probably need to be worn with a winter coat.
6) Daylight Savings Time has started. This is a myth to trick people into getting up earlier than they really need to. The sun is not going to shine for an extra hour just because you have set your clock ahead. I say go ahead and sleep in and continue your regular schedule. If you decide to go this route, please be advised that places of business do adhere to Daylight Savings Time - be certain you are not late for any appointments. Also, your employer will probably require you to show up according to Daylight Savings Time. It's all a conspiracy to trick you into thinking you have extra daylight.
7) Your thoughts will turn to the beach. You start to plan where you want to go for a beach break. You find yourself googling places to stay on your beach break. You hold off on contacting any family members yet regarding said beach break but mentally - you are there enjoying the beach.
8) You find that an entire day has passed and you are not sure what you did all day. This is know as Spring Fever. You are inside but want to be outside because you see the sun shining and you have been inside all winter. As you are contemplating a walk you hear the weather man say "Colder weather on the way." So much for that break. No need to start a walking program now as it will have to be put on hold when the cold weather hits. Better wait until it warms up and stays warm.
9) You decide that perhaps you should check out your summer wardrobe. Upon doing so you will discover that someone has gone into your closet over the winter and made alterations to your summer clothes. This results in a resolve on your part to loose some weight (probably won't happen as you have been trying to loose weight for the last 6 months anyway). You also decide that you need to start an exercise program. Best program would be a walking program. Hmm.... refer to #8 -- that will have to wait for a while.
10) Windows are opened. This is an attempt to freshen up your house. It has been closed up for several months and you want to bring the fresh air inside. Word of advise - if you turn off your furnace and open your window don't forget that it still gets chilly overnight. Remember to close said windows so that you don't wake up in the morning to a house that is 50 degrees inside.
11) Be advised - any signs of Spring may be temporary. There is no guarantee that Spring is here just because the calendar says so.
With all that said - go ahead enjoy Spring - whether it is here for a day or if it is here to stay.
1) 95% of your friends on Facebook will post a notice that it is the first day of Spring. This is for everyone who does not own a calendar or any other form of data advising them that Spring has arrived.
2) For a week you will see notices on Facebook of what your friends are doing on Spring Break. These may or may not be family-friendly notices. They may or may not be appropriate for everyone to see.
3) People in the Midwestern part of the country will experience various ranges of weather. This may be 70 degrees and sunny one day with two inches of snow the following day.
4) People will decide to clean up their yards. This involves raking and bagging the leaves that should have been cleaned up last fall. This might result in the discovery of a hibernating snake. Should this occur, the aforementioned person will quickly abandon any thought of cleaning up their yard.
5) Shorts and flip-flops will appear. This is wishful thinking as the shorts and flip-flops will probably need to be worn with a winter coat.
6) Daylight Savings Time has started. This is a myth to trick people into getting up earlier than they really need to. The sun is not going to shine for an extra hour just because you have set your clock ahead. I say go ahead and sleep in and continue your regular schedule. If you decide to go this route, please be advised that places of business do adhere to Daylight Savings Time - be certain you are not late for any appointments. Also, your employer will probably require you to show up according to Daylight Savings Time. It's all a conspiracy to trick you into thinking you have extra daylight.
7) Your thoughts will turn to the beach. You start to plan where you want to go for a beach break. You find yourself googling places to stay on your beach break. You hold off on contacting any family members yet regarding said beach break but mentally - you are there enjoying the beach.
8) You find that an entire day has passed and you are not sure what you did all day. This is know as Spring Fever. You are inside but want to be outside because you see the sun shining and you have been inside all winter. As you are contemplating a walk you hear the weather man say "Colder weather on the way." So much for that break. No need to start a walking program now as it will have to be put on hold when the cold weather hits. Better wait until it warms up and stays warm.
9) You decide that perhaps you should check out your summer wardrobe. Upon doing so you will discover that someone has gone into your closet over the winter and made alterations to your summer clothes. This results in a resolve on your part to loose some weight (probably won't happen as you have been trying to loose weight for the last 6 months anyway). You also decide that you need to start an exercise program. Best program would be a walking program. Hmm.... refer to #8 -- that will have to wait for a while.
10) Windows are opened. This is an attempt to freshen up your house. It has been closed up for several months and you want to bring the fresh air inside. Word of advise - if you turn off your furnace and open your window don't forget that it still gets chilly overnight. Remember to close said windows so that you don't wake up in the morning to a house that is 50 degrees inside.
11) Be advised - any signs of Spring may be temporary. There is no guarantee that Spring is here just because the calendar says so.
With all that said - go ahead enjoy Spring - whether it is here for a day or if it is here to stay.
Monday, March 10, 2014
A Series of Accidents
Gary and I took a short vacation this past week, hence no Blog post from me. Gary had some vacation days he had to use up so we decided to go to Arizona and see the family out there. We took the two grand kids here in Tulsa with us so the cousins could have some time together. Keep in mind - this is four kids a year apart in age. Remington, who turned 10 in January; Jimmy and Billy, who turn 10 this week, and Lily, who will turn 9 later this month. One little girl - three little boys make for some fun times.
Let me share a little bit of the 'fun' times we had. We arrived Tuesday evening. On Wednesday afternoon, we took the kids to the park for some fun. As soon as we get out of the car the four kids take off running for the fence. This is a fence around the ball field. They want to 'jump the fence'. I ask why and the response is "I don't know". So the twins get to the fence, climb the fence and jump down. Remington gets to the fence, climbs the fence, goes over the top, lowers himself part way then drops to the ground. Lily gets to the fence, gets on top and stops. I don't blame her - that fence is fairly tall, perhaps 8 feet. The boys taunt her, 'Come on, Lily, don't be a girl!' Billy says, 'I'll push you". He heads towards the fence and Lily jumps down.
Accident #1: she landed wrong. Poor kid, her foot is hurt. Grampa takes her back to the house, puts an ice bag on her foot, gives her an ibuprofen and she takes a nap. When she gets up we can tell the foot is swelling. Much discussion between us grandparents and Aunt Tarinda about what we should do. We finally come to the consensus to wrap it, ice it, elevate it and see how it looks the next day. It continues to swell but we decide it is a bad sprain and continue the aforementioned treatment. Not easy to keep her off the foot as she wants to hang out with the boys but we do our best.
Next morning, Tarinda has a meeting and we are left in charge of the kids and homework. Oh, did I mention that all four kids are home-schooled? Tarinda leaves a list for her boys and K.C. has given me a list for her two. I call them down and tell them to get homework done. Let's just say it's a good thing I don't home school them full-time. I have one needing assistance with multiplication. I turn around from helping Lily and one of the twins is gone. I help one with area and perimeter and when I look up Lily is gone. When questioned about where did the missing child go I am told "to the bathroom".
One twin is supposed to do a test and says he can't do it because this is a major test for the year and his computer doesn't work right and he will have to wait to do it. One twin tells me he is done. When questioned he says he cannot do his homework because his brother is on the computer and they only have one computer. Give me a break, I know you have more than one computer in the house. Go do the reading your mom put down. I am told that he already did his reading. Grampa says bring me your book and let's see if you can answer the questions I have. He is told I already answered them with my mom. I advise he needs to read two new chapters in his book. You are going to love this response. "I can't. We only have one book and one bookmark. I can't read ahead we have to stay together." He was advised to read ahead.
I consider that morning a success as the kids all had breakfast and brushed their teeth.
Homework done, the boys head down to the tree house fort. Aunt Charlie has come over and the adults are sitting on the sofa talking when Billy comes in breathless. "Come quick! Jimmy is hurt real bad. I left Remington with him." My response: "is this for real or are you just trying to trick me?" "No, he really is hurt. A tire fell on him." Me, "Where is he?" "At the tree fort." Me, "just how far away is this tree fort? Do I have to go very far?" I want to be certain that there is actual reason for me to make the trek to the fort.
We head towards the tree fort and as we get close enough I see Jimmy laying flat on the ground. Hmmmmm, maybe he really is hurt. We get over there and ask where he is hurt. It seems they tried to lift a small tire up into the tree and it fell down on his leg. He has a bruise. I ask why he is laying down flat on the ground. Response? "Well, I was sitting up but thought it might be better if I laid down." OK - we now have accident #2 here. Way to go, Grandma.
That afternoon we go to watch a Spring Training game. Poor Lily, still has a swollen foot that we are keeping wrapped. She has to hobble along. It's a long walk from the parking lot to the ball field. She is very slow. Our solution was that perhaps Grampa should give her a piggy back ride. He bends down and Lily tries to hop on his back. He wasn't ready and falls down - sitting on Lily's sore foot. She is hopping around going OW OW OW. Charlie and I are laughing pretty hard as we see Gary sitting on the ground. Finally we make it inside and position ourselves. It doesn't take long for most people around us to move farther away. Something about my family, four little kids, one teenage girl and two of the "Houston" girls together keeps people away. Everyone one of them is LOUD! We see that Grampa has deserted us too. Hmmmmm not a good sign.
Remington comes and tells me that his toe hurts. I ask what he did. He was running down the hill and kind of stubbed his toe but it bent backwards. Can we now say accident #3? It doesn't look to bad at this point. Kids are getting hungry for snacks and we realize that Gary has been gone an excessive amount of time. I finally have a "Gary sighting" across the field from us. After snacks and the game and an even wider area cleared around us the game is called during the 9th with a tie. Now to head back to the house.
When we arrive at the house, I look at Remington's foot again as he is starting to limp. Yep, it's starting to swell and is bruising. Great! We alternate ice packs between him and Lily. Lily wants to get a bandage to wrap his toe but I explain that won't work. I tell Billy that he better watch out, he's the only one not yet hurt.
Yes, we had a good visit. I managed to retain most of my sanity. The kids did hear the question several times, "What is wrong with you?" I didn't feel to bad about that as Tarinda told me she asks her boys that all the time. I think four kids so close together in age make for fun, hectic, memorable times.
One small note: I kept the percentage of injuries at only 75% for the little kids. Grand daughter Cady spent most of the time in her room thus she was safe from possible injury (unless she fell off the stool as she applied her makeup and did her hair). I'll save the rest of our trip for another blog.
Here's a picture of the 'injuries' Top left: Lily's foot. Bottom left: Remington's toe. Right: Jimmy's leg bruise.
Let me share a little bit of the 'fun' times we had. We arrived Tuesday evening. On Wednesday afternoon, we took the kids to the park for some fun. As soon as we get out of the car the four kids take off running for the fence. This is a fence around the ball field. They want to 'jump the fence'. I ask why and the response is "I don't know". So the twins get to the fence, climb the fence and jump down. Remington gets to the fence, climbs the fence, goes over the top, lowers himself part way then drops to the ground. Lily gets to the fence, gets on top and stops. I don't blame her - that fence is fairly tall, perhaps 8 feet. The boys taunt her, 'Come on, Lily, don't be a girl!' Billy says, 'I'll push you". He heads towards the fence and Lily jumps down.
Accident #1: she landed wrong. Poor kid, her foot is hurt. Grampa takes her back to the house, puts an ice bag on her foot, gives her an ibuprofen and she takes a nap. When she gets up we can tell the foot is swelling. Much discussion between us grandparents and Aunt Tarinda about what we should do. We finally come to the consensus to wrap it, ice it, elevate it and see how it looks the next day. It continues to swell but we decide it is a bad sprain and continue the aforementioned treatment. Not easy to keep her off the foot as she wants to hang out with the boys but we do our best.
Next morning, Tarinda has a meeting and we are left in charge of the kids and homework. Oh, did I mention that all four kids are home-schooled? Tarinda leaves a list for her boys and K.C. has given me a list for her two. I call them down and tell them to get homework done. Let's just say it's a good thing I don't home school them full-time. I have one needing assistance with multiplication. I turn around from helping Lily and one of the twins is gone. I help one with area and perimeter and when I look up Lily is gone. When questioned about where did the missing child go I am told "to the bathroom".
One twin is supposed to do a test and says he can't do it because this is a major test for the year and his computer doesn't work right and he will have to wait to do it. One twin tells me he is done. When questioned he says he cannot do his homework because his brother is on the computer and they only have one computer. Give me a break, I know you have more than one computer in the house. Go do the reading your mom put down. I am told that he already did his reading. Grampa says bring me your book and let's see if you can answer the questions I have. He is told I already answered them with my mom. I advise he needs to read two new chapters in his book. You are going to love this response. "I can't. We only have one book and one bookmark. I can't read ahead we have to stay together." He was advised to read ahead.
I consider that morning a success as the kids all had breakfast and brushed their teeth.
Homework done, the boys head down to the tree house fort. Aunt Charlie has come over and the adults are sitting on the sofa talking when Billy comes in breathless. "Come quick! Jimmy is hurt real bad. I left Remington with him." My response: "is this for real or are you just trying to trick me?" "No, he really is hurt. A tire fell on him." Me, "Where is he?" "At the tree fort." Me, "just how far away is this tree fort? Do I have to go very far?" I want to be certain that there is actual reason for me to make the trek to the fort.
We head towards the tree fort and as we get close enough I see Jimmy laying flat on the ground. Hmmmmm, maybe he really is hurt. We get over there and ask where he is hurt. It seems they tried to lift a small tire up into the tree and it fell down on his leg. He has a bruise. I ask why he is laying down flat on the ground. Response? "Well, I was sitting up but thought it might be better if I laid down." OK - we now have accident #2 here. Way to go, Grandma.
That afternoon we go to watch a Spring Training game. Poor Lily, still has a swollen foot that we are keeping wrapped. She has to hobble along. It's a long walk from the parking lot to the ball field. She is very slow. Our solution was that perhaps Grampa should give her a piggy back ride. He bends down and Lily tries to hop on his back. He wasn't ready and falls down - sitting on Lily's sore foot. She is hopping around going OW OW OW. Charlie and I are laughing pretty hard as we see Gary sitting on the ground. Finally we make it inside and position ourselves. It doesn't take long for most people around us to move farther away. Something about my family, four little kids, one teenage girl and two of the "Houston" girls together keeps people away. Everyone one of them is LOUD! We see that Grampa has deserted us too. Hmmmmm not a good sign.
Remington comes and tells me that his toe hurts. I ask what he did. He was running down the hill and kind of stubbed his toe but it bent backwards. Can we now say accident #3? It doesn't look to bad at this point. Kids are getting hungry for snacks and we realize that Gary has been gone an excessive amount of time. I finally have a "Gary sighting" across the field from us. After snacks and the game and an even wider area cleared around us the game is called during the 9th with a tie. Now to head back to the house.
When we arrive at the house, I look at Remington's foot again as he is starting to limp. Yep, it's starting to swell and is bruising. Great! We alternate ice packs between him and Lily. Lily wants to get a bandage to wrap his toe but I explain that won't work. I tell Billy that he better watch out, he's the only one not yet hurt.
Yes, we had a good visit. I managed to retain most of my sanity. The kids did hear the question several times, "What is wrong with you?" I didn't feel to bad about that as Tarinda told me she asks her boys that all the time. I think four kids so close together in age make for fun, hectic, memorable times.
One small note: I kept the percentage of injuries at only 75% for the little kids. Grand daughter Cady spent most of the time in her room thus she was safe from possible injury (unless she fell off the stool as she applied her makeup and did her hair). I'll save the rest of our trip for another blog.
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