There was a very innocuous song way back in the 70's that had that line in it. My older brother and I would laugh and say that phrase because of a friend of ours who couldn't say it just right....he had trouble with the 'le' of people and it would always come out 'peopo'. He had this sort of Porky Pig way of talking with the 'peopo evwy weao need peopo' thing going on....thus we were hooked on a goofy line from a song because our friend couldn't say 'people' just right!! He'd say it. We'd bust up. Our laughing would egg him on.......warped!!!!
OK, we shouldn't have laughed at our buddy!!! But, man was he funny!!
Now, some decades removed, I'm thinking about how brutally true that phrase is. People everywhere are looking for meaningful relationships. Decent relationships. Friendships. People are lonely as they are surrounded by humanity.
Never in my life have I been more aware of that than right now! Getting people hooked up with each other in a wholesome, healthy, and meaningful way is a giant part of what church is all about. We as humans, have at the very core of us, an innate desire to be connected with others. We draw support and encouragement, laughter and hope from each other.
People are more important than programs, but if you have the right programs that get people connected correctly is huge. And I'm looking forward to getting that accomplished, because the goofy phrase has it right....
'Peopo everywhere need peopo.....!"
MTC!
Mark
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
COLORS
I love the colors of Fall!
My daughter and I went over to Wenatchee for a couple of days and the colors of the leaves were stunningly vibrant! What a beautiful time of year. What was totally interesting was that in some places it appeared as if the sun was shining on a hillside, but in actuality it was the vivid colors. Man, were they ever loud for being so silent!
The whole trip made me think of the seasons of life. We get older. Our children grow up. And in all of it, hopefully, we have produced over time, some familial traditions and seasonal 'givens' that have great value, that our children will carry on with their children. Seasons have a way of doing that.
As seasons change, God's creation is gearing up for the next season; getting ready; preparing itself. I'm kind of doing the same thing: planning, preparing, getting ready...but the bottom line is that the colors of the season I am in are absolutely beautiful. They are just as gorgeous as previous ones. It's a great season.
I'm lovin' the colors!
MTC!
Mark
My daughter and I went over to Wenatchee for a couple of days and the colors of the leaves were stunningly vibrant! What a beautiful time of year. What was totally interesting was that in some places it appeared as if the sun was shining on a hillside, but in actuality it was the vivid colors. Man, were they ever loud for being so silent!
The whole trip made me think of the seasons of life. We get older. Our children grow up. And in all of it, hopefully, we have produced over time, some familial traditions and seasonal 'givens' that have great value, that our children will carry on with their children. Seasons have a way of doing that.
As seasons change, God's creation is gearing up for the next season; getting ready; preparing itself. I'm kind of doing the same thing: planning, preparing, getting ready...but the bottom line is that the colors of the season I am in are absolutely beautiful. They are just as gorgeous as previous ones. It's a great season.
I'm lovin' the colors!
MTC!
Mark
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
We Have Lift Off!
Sunday was so cool!
For the past year we have been planning, preparing, building a team, buying stuff, and a ton of other things that are connected with starting/planting a church. Sunday was our first public meeting.
We sent out mailers and people invited their friends and neighbors. We had 100 people show up! What an answer to prayer!! God is so totally awesome. The people were terrifically warm and encouraging. They laughed at my corny humor and they were some of the nicest people you will ever meet! How cool it is!!
I can't wait to see who is new this week!!!!
MTC!
Mark
For the past year we have been planning, preparing, building a team, buying stuff, and a ton of other things that are connected with starting/planting a church. Sunday was our first public meeting.
We sent out mailers and people invited their friends and neighbors. We had 100 people show up! What an answer to prayer!! God is so totally awesome. The people were terrifically warm and encouraging. They laughed at my corny humor and they were some of the nicest people you will ever meet! How cool it is!!
I can't wait to see who is new this week!!!!
MTC!
Mark
Friday, October 19, 2007
Blast from the Past!
Wednesday night was a great time!
26 years have passed since I saw some of these great people!!
I had the great opportunity to hook up with some friends at the church I grew up in. What a fun experience it was to re-connect with friends in my peer group and those people who were adults when I was a little kid. Time has not changed who they have always bee: outstanding! They might be a bit more grey, some have lost weight, and others haven't changed a bit.
Truly, I am grateful for people in life, who remain true to themselves and don't shift and change with the times. They aren't stuck in a time warp, they have progressed with progress, but inside, they remain the true blue friends that I spent 16 years with.
This is an admirable goal to set: to change the little things that need changing in our lives, but to remain the same wonderful person we are so that after 26 years, we can carry on conversations with old friends and feel like nothing has changed!
MTC!
Mark
26 years have passed since I saw some of these great people!!
I had the great opportunity to hook up with some friends at the church I grew up in. What a fun experience it was to re-connect with friends in my peer group and those people who were adults when I was a little kid. Time has not changed who they have always bee: outstanding! They might be a bit more grey, some have lost weight, and others haven't changed a bit.
Truly, I am grateful for people in life, who remain true to themselves and don't shift and change with the times. They aren't stuck in a time warp, they have progressed with progress, but inside, they remain the true blue friends that I spent 16 years with.
This is an admirable goal to set: to change the little things that need changing in our lives, but to remain the same wonderful person we are so that after 26 years, we can carry on conversations with old friends and feel like nothing has changed!
MTC!
Mark
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Embrace the moment!
I've been trying something new as of late. I'm not very proficient at it yet. I still slide very quickly back into the predominant way of thinking that has been molded and shaped over time and situations. I find this new way of functioning challenging and exciting at the same time!
What I am attempting to do is to take every unique moment that pops up in my day and embrace it for what it is! That demands that I try to define what 'it' actually is. What I am coming to realize is that by doing so, my day is actually much more powerful. Much more enjoyable. Filled with much more potential.
I am attempting to embrace each turn of the day as an embraceable moment of reality that should be used to enrich my life and someone else's.
Two days ago I had to run an errand to the paint store. I view paint stores like my wife views hunting equipment.....why do they exist? It goes without saying that I was not looking forward to this little trip.
Then I reminded myself that this is a turn in my day that I need to embrace. I need to look forward to what this moment has to afford and take it and make something great out of it.
It happened!
There were people in the store requiring that I wait in line. In front of me was a young mom with a two year old girl and a baby in the car seat tote thingymajig! My first impulse was to do my normal mental shuffle and calculate how much time I'm going to waste by waiting for the clerks to answer a billion questions and then finally help, but I didn't go there. She came to me!
Yep, that two year old came around the corner of the aisle with two paint rollers up to her eyes and looked up at her mom and said, "smile!". There was my moment! I rolled up the paper I had in my hand and looked at her and said "cheeze!". We were buds from that moment on.
For the next 15 minutes we made animal sound noises with our rolled up papers and had a ball! What I didn't realize is that there was a line of men behind me and as the little girl and I began to make 'piggy' noises, I was startled when I heard one guy say, "I could never do that!".
Here's the kicker: when the mom left with her baby, two year old, and clerk carrying the paint, the two year old came back to me and wanted to play some more. Her mom came rushing to the door wondering where her daughter was and then saw her with me. She laughed and called her by name and off they went.
What a great embraceable moment! I made a new little friend. I didn't get bummed out about having to wait in line in a store that I would rather not be in, and besides, it gave me a chance to really hone my barnyard sounds!! The pig is really coming along!!!!
MTC!
Mark
What I am attempting to do is to take every unique moment that pops up in my day and embrace it for what it is! That demands that I try to define what 'it' actually is. What I am coming to realize is that by doing so, my day is actually much more powerful. Much more enjoyable. Filled with much more potential.
I am attempting to embrace each turn of the day as an embraceable moment of reality that should be used to enrich my life and someone else's.
Two days ago I had to run an errand to the paint store. I view paint stores like my wife views hunting equipment.....why do they exist? It goes without saying that I was not looking forward to this little trip.
Then I reminded myself that this is a turn in my day that I need to embrace. I need to look forward to what this moment has to afford and take it and make something great out of it.
It happened!
There were people in the store requiring that I wait in line. In front of me was a young mom with a two year old girl and a baby in the car seat tote thingymajig! My first impulse was to do my normal mental shuffle and calculate how much time I'm going to waste by waiting for the clerks to answer a billion questions and then finally help, but I didn't go there. She came to me!
Yep, that two year old came around the corner of the aisle with two paint rollers up to her eyes and looked up at her mom and said, "smile!". There was my moment! I rolled up the paper I had in my hand and looked at her and said "cheeze!". We were buds from that moment on.
For the next 15 minutes we made animal sound noises with our rolled up papers and had a ball! What I didn't realize is that there was a line of men behind me and as the little girl and I began to make 'piggy' noises, I was startled when I heard one guy say, "I could never do that!".
Here's the kicker: when the mom left with her baby, two year old, and clerk carrying the paint, the two year old came back to me and wanted to play some more. Her mom came rushing to the door wondering where her daughter was and then saw her with me. She laughed and called her by name and off they went.
What a great embraceable moment! I made a new little friend. I didn't get bummed out about having to wait in line in a store that I would rather not be in, and besides, it gave me a chance to really hone my barnyard sounds!! The pig is really coming along!!!!
MTC!
Mark
Monday, October 15, 2007
Membership Matters!
Saturday was a big day!
My wife and our oldest daughter headed to an all day swim meet. I took our younger daughter to her soccer game. We then headed to run a few errands after the game and then off to sight in a rifle she will use in a couple of weeks for the annual elk hunt!
Now, I thought I had my ducks in a row. I had emailed the range master and he gave the hours that the range would be open. We headed out to the range and wouldn't you know it, I had not asked the correct question. I asked what time and he gave me the times, he didn't tell me you had to be a member. Never came up.
Bummer deal.
So we headed to another gun range nearby hoping that we would find a sympathetic soul to help us. We found a gentleman who was more than gracious and was happy to help get the gun sighted in. What a great guy! Thanks for your help Clete!
As we left, I was grateful for our newly made friend and it also made me think about how membership matters. Being a member of certain things is critical for life to work well: family, small group of close friends, work force, and many more. Membership offers community and benefits that are unavailable to those outside its boundaries.
I found that out on Saturday at the locked gate!
It might be wise to check into the membership dues at the gun club!!
MTC!
Mark
My wife and our oldest daughter headed to an all day swim meet. I took our younger daughter to her soccer game. We then headed to run a few errands after the game and then off to sight in a rifle she will use in a couple of weeks for the annual elk hunt!
Now, I thought I had my ducks in a row. I had emailed the range master and he gave the hours that the range would be open. We headed out to the range and wouldn't you know it, I had not asked the correct question. I asked what time and he gave me the times, he didn't tell me you had to be a member. Never came up.
Bummer deal.
So we headed to another gun range nearby hoping that we would find a sympathetic soul to help us. We found a gentleman who was more than gracious and was happy to help get the gun sighted in. What a great guy! Thanks for your help Clete!
As we left, I was grateful for our newly made friend and it also made me think about how membership matters. Being a member of certain things is critical for life to work well: family, small group of close friends, work force, and many more. Membership offers community and benefits that are unavailable to those outside its boundaries.
I found that out on Saturday at the locked gate!
It might be wise to check into the membership dues at the gun club!!
MTC!
Mark
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Three Fences, One Workbench, And Four Houses
I took a trip down memory lane last evening.
After three fences, one workbench and four houses later, I decided it was high time to go through the organizer bins I have neglected for 17 years! Yep......17 years.
Last night, I took control! I bull rushed those bins with their nightmarish clutter and junk and I did battle! Not only did I fight off the enemy of disorganization and mess, but I actually won! Now there are four bins with drawers that make sense.
No longer does one slide out drawer contain anything from rubber stoppers to push pins or rusty nails or bent screws. Nope, we are lookin' good! Some drawers even have the labels from the box that was housing the 3 1/2 galvanized screws! Wow!!
Here's the point. I spent probably two hours to sort, pick through, throw out, clean up an area that I had just flat out neglected over the course of 17 years. Was the disarray ruining my life or my family? Of course not, however, it did bug me sometimes to look at the mess and after .00075 seconds I would flush that thought and move on with my day.
Going through the 100 plus slide out drawers was actually quite fun. I had the Red Sox and Indians game on and I actually found myself having a great time! It wasn't all about getting a much needed job done, but rather all of the great memories connected with some of the nails, screws, electrical outlet covers, wiring, that made the time really cool.
There were the outlet wall covers so that our daughters wouldn't put their fingers into the wall plug in (or did Karen buy those so that I wouldn't do that???). There are the 'child-proof' drawer thingymajigs. There are the many sized and multiple threaded screws from when my father-in-law built (he let me supervise!!!!) the custom work bench for our basement in Iowa.
The galvanized nails from our very first fence. And then the tons of 'extra' bolts, nuts, washers, doohickies, from stuff I have put together over the years. I never have figured out why all the leftover parts????
After getting the stuff sorted and tossing the junk that should have been tossed the day I last touched it makes for a much more tidy and efficient workbench. It's nicer to look at and I know where I can find everything. The drawers actually work when I pull them out!! The clutter and junk is gone!
Clearing up the clutter makes for a better environment. Clearing up the clutter on my workbench is really no different than life. Life gets cluttered and sometimes we need to take some time and focus on getting it cleaned and cleared up so that it all works better!
MTC!
Mark
After three fences, one workbench and four houses later, I decided it was high time to go through the organizer bins I have neglected for 17 years! Yep......17 years.
Last night, I took control! I bull rushed those bins with their nightmarish clutter and junk and I did battle! Not only did I fight off the enemy of disorganization and mess, but I actually won! Now there are four bins with drawers that make sense.
No longer does one slide out drawer contain anything from rubber stoppers to push pins or rusty nails or bent screws. Nope, we are lookin' good! Some drawers even have the labels from the box that was housing the 3 1/2 galvanized screws! Wow!!
Here's the point. I spent probably two hours to sort, pick through, throw out, clean up an area that I had just flat out neglected over the course of 17 years. Was the disarray ruining my life or my family? Of course not, however, it did bug me sometimes to look at the mess and after .00075 seconds I would flush that thought and move on with my day.
Going through the 100 plus slide out drawers was actually quite fun. I had the Red Sox and Indians game on and I actually found myself having a great time! It wasn't all about getting a much needed job done, but rather all of the great memories connected with some of the nails, screws, electrical outlet covers, wiring, that made the time really cool.
There were the outlet wall covers so that our daughters wouldn't put their fingers into the wall plug in (or did Karen buy those so that I wouldn't do that???). There are the 'child-proof' drawer thingymajigs. There are the many sized and multiple threaded screws from when my father-in-law built (he let me supervise!!!!) the custom work bench for our basement in Iowa.
The galvanized nails from our very first fence. And then the tons of 'extra' bolts, nuts, washers, doohickies, from stuff I have put together over the years. I never have figured out why all the leftover parts????
After getting the stuff sorted and tossing the junk that should have been tossed the day I last touched it makes for a much more tidy and efficient workbench. It's nicer to look at and I know where I can find everything. The drawers actually work when I pull them out!! The clutter and junk is gone!
Clearing up the clutter makes for a better environment. Clearing up the clutter on my workbench is really no different than life. Life gets cluttered and sometimes we need to take some time and focus on getting it cleaned and cleared up so that it all works better!
MTC!
Mark
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