Love the person

I have heard the phrase "love the person, hate the sin."  During the pastor's sermon a new spin was put on the phrase.  Or something I had never thought about.   The pastor said it is easier to love everyone than someone.

At first this sounds backward, but it is true.  We do a good job in showing love to people as a whole.  Or we at least find it easier to say we love them.  However, try to love your neighbor, fellow church member, spouse, or children.  I can be guilty of not showing them love.

The pastor had a good analogy.  At church when a new visitor arrives, he is made to feel welcome.  Then I might get to know him.  I learn more about him, maybe something I do not like.  It gets hard to be near him.  All the time forgetting that he is learning things about me that he does not like.

As Christians we are called to one another.  That is one of the basics.  Out of love other things will come.  It is how we are recognized as Christians.  Although we do a good job of forgetting that.

Store bought

A lot of my shopping has to do with what is cheap.  Or at least looks like what I want and is cheap.  I love it when things are on sale.

The other day Wendy, the girls, and I were in the grocery store.  We passed the discount items.  In the cart was a container of flaxseed.  I had heard about it, but never had it.  It was half off in price.  I debated whether to make the purchase.  I did not.

The next morning I could not get the notion of trying the flaxseed.  The more I thought about the more I thought why not.  So after my workout, I rode by the grocery store.  I must have wanted it because I do not like to go out of my way.  I walk in, debating my decision and wondering if the item was still going to be  there.  It was and I made the purchase.

I had to look up what to do with the flaxseed.  Apparently you sprinkle some in smoothies, yogurt, cereal, and other things.  It is supposed to be beneficial to health.  I tried it in my cereal this morning.  I did not notice to much of a difference.  Perhaps my body does.

Wendy and I did pass up a humongous peanut butter pie on sale.  We thought about getting it and it was still there the morning I went.  I picked it up and put down a few times.  However, I decided not to get it.

Believe it or not

I have heard the term "radical" a lot in the past days.  The two brothers involved with the act in Boston were considered to be radicalized.  On a positive note this past Sunday was youth Sunday at our church.  The term was radical faith.

Most people question why does a person change.  What makes a somewhat normal person do something different?  Could it be the promise of notoriety?  Or money?  Sense of belonging?  Everyone has different reasons.  We can only speculate.

It goes to show that everyone wants to believe in something.  A few may live it out, but all want to make a difference.  The choice is what influence will be made.  Our responsibility is to provide the best options.  If what is right is not taught, then how can we expect the future generation to live it.

Proof is in the pudding

That is a phrase I have heard before.  I looked it up and saw the original phrase had "in the eating" added to it.  The phrase is to mean we have to experience something to understand it.

I know it is after Easter and many, if not all, pastors focused on the resurrection of  Jesus and His encounters with the disciples.  One story is that of Thomas.  We always hear doubting Thomas.  My thought is that he was not there at the right time.  All the disciples were gathered together, except Thomas, and Jesus is suddenly there.  So they have a chance to see Jesus.  Then Thomas returns and the disciples say they saw Jesus alive.  Thomas comes back with his now famous retort unless he sees Jesus he will not believe.  A week later Thomas is with the disciples and Jesus appears encouraging Thomas to feel the wounds.  Then  Thomas believes.

Most of the faith stories in the Bible have Jesus revealing Himself.  At the tomb to Mary, the disciples in the room, the two disciples on the road.  Jesus offers proof.  God knows what we need.  Is it better to belief unseen?  Perhaps.  With our belief, God uses that and makes Himself known.  It takes a willingness to believe.  We can have the faith of a mustard seed.

Or we need to want to eat the pudding and then once we eat it we have truly experienced it.

I originally thought about focusing the post on Thomas and how we only remember him for doubting at first.  Then leaving with the question, how will you be remembered?

Tear it up

All parents will recognize the stage we are entering.  Joy will suddenly throw a tantrum and burst into tears.  It can be when she is frustrated by not being able to do something, not getting her way, or sometimes it appears just because.  It is hard to find out what is wrong because in the midst of crying will not answer.

I wonder where she got that from?

Oh yeah.  Probably me.  I see the frustration I exhibit when things do not go my way.

I will have to recognize that I have people watching.  Sometimes my first instinct is not the greatest.  I have to remember, just as we tell Joy, "Calm down and tell us what you want."

Speaking with competence

I am sure that you know people who even when they are wrong seem right.  Or people who even when they are right seem wrong.

It comes down to confidence.  The ability to promote an idea and stand behind it.  I am not so great at that.  Is it because I do not want to share my opinion in fear of offending someone or being wrong?  Is it general competence?

Most of the time as I talk I feel that I  ramble.  I might say the same thing multiple times.  It is not one and done with me.  Or my voice sounds like I am raising a question when making a statement so I am not being clear.  I will look back on a conversation I had and think to myself, "That person things I am incompetent."

It comes to a matter of belief in what is being said.  If something said is wrong, then the person will be corrected.  Most of the time people will listen to what is being said.  They want to hear it or they would not have asked.  Remember I said most of the time.

It is okay to speak out.  To have confidence in what is said.  You know what you are talking about, hopefully?

Trying to do the right thing

Yesterday, I had one of those days when I would try and do something, but it would not turn out quite right. It seems those days happen.

I had been thinking about depositing some cash we received into the bank for several days.  I would forget until I was at home.  So yesterday was going to be the day.  I was going to do it before I worked out in  the morning.  I forgot.  So I had to do it before work.  I drive to the ATM,  but there was no deposit envelope.  Fortunately, Wendy had shown me an ATM on the other side of the bank a few months earlier.  It pays to be married to someone smarter.  Thankfully there were envelopes there.  Money deposited.

I tried to figure out how to print the return and delivery address on an envelope from a printer I have at work.  It would never put in the right place.  After the fifth attempt, success.

I wanted to, well could, go to BJs to pick up a few things.  I thought I would see what in club coupons they had.  Tried to print some.  First they had the wrong account associated with e-mail, so it look like my membership expired.  I had to set up new account.  Then the coupons printed, but without telling me what they are.  Fortunately, the coupons were in a coupon book mailed to us.  I get to BJs and think I am buying a good deal.  Wendy informs me my large purchase is not here favorite, but it will work.

Everything was accomplished, however it turned out.

Quiet times

Have you noticed than when you are trying to be quiet, it seems that is when the most noise is made.  Everyone is asleep and you ease your way into a room, then wham! something falls.  Or that container makes the loud noise.

Sometimes in the midst of quiet you wish that something would happen.  It is too quiet.

Or like me, my body just shuts down.

Goosed

We have had an increase of goose population around our neighborhood.  It is like a natural traffic snarl with all the honking.  At work, my supervisor has many times run geese off the property.

Behind our house it a goose nest.  With three eggs.  I was going to run a goose off our deck.  I went around the back way and saw a goose squatting down.  As I tried to run that goose off I saw it sitting on some eggs.  So most mornings, maybe all, the geese are engaged in a turf war right behind our house.  Chasing one another and making noise.

Next year I will be more diligent in running them off.  No wonder I am so pooped.