Be The Change

There is a catchy phrase that is popular right now inspiring us to be a part of a bigger picture.  As we look at all the need in the world and all the changes that need to take place so people are treated humanely, certainly the first place to start is in ourselves. Then we should contribute to the bigger picture by participating in the group.  We definitely need to get off our rears and get involved.

But when you have gotten off your rear and attempted to be the change, and you begin to realize that the system needs more work than you have time for, or the values you hold to are not the same priorities to others, it may be time to re-evaluate your attempts and change your strategy…

I see this in churches all the time.  I see it in the school our older kids attended this year.  Sometimes the organization has so many things to work on that the priorities you have may never get addressed.  Sometimes the values are just completely different.  At those times the best thing for everyone is a bigger change, like finding a new church or a new school more in line with meeting the conditions and the values you hold dear.

Life is too short, kids grow up too fast, and sometimes change takes too long.  One size  does not fit all, and there are plenty of options out there, don’t feel badly if you have to make a change, especially if you have made every effort to be the change first.

Life Sized Ark in Hong Kong

Heard about Hong Kong’s life size ark this morning on Good Morning America.  Thought I would share some images.  I would like to go see it!

Twitter-Licious

I love Twitter.  I have written about it here before, but last night reminded me why…

I was at home sitting in the recliner Trish bought me watching American Idol, while my wife was sitting on elementary sized lunchroom table benches in a crowded and volatile school board meeting.  I knew before they did what the “word on the street” was because @Taklandrock is on twitter.

In the mean time I was chatting it up on Twitter with my good friend @Scottsmith23.  His wife was also at the board meeting, he was probably watching sports at home in his recliner.

The best part was that since I was so busy Twittering, I may have missed who won American Idol, and that he won by a record setting 100 million votes or whatever, but I knew who won at least an hour before the end of the show because someone Twittered the results and Twittered the number of votes cast.  So no worries, Twitter keeps me connected and informed.

You should join now (click here) so you can be connected and informed too.  I promise to follow you…  @Grahamprouty

Imagine Judas…

Imagine Judas was on your team, in your inner circle, part of your core ministry group, a partner with you in your mission.  Imagine knowing that he would betray you to your death.    Imagine allowing him to be aware of your movements, your actions, your purpose and treating him no different than you treat all the others.  Imagine knowing for three years or so that he would trade all the good times you shared together for some cash.

Imagine loving him anyway.  Imagine washing his feet, just like the others.  Imagine praying every day for him, pouring your heart out for the man’s soul. Imagine the brokenness you would feel for that person, the one you pondered, prayed for and loved, when he was seized by guilt and killed himself thinking his life was of no value because he lets people down.

Imagine loving people that are unlovely.  Imagine loving people that have been hurt and hurt others.  Imagine allowing people to get close to you, knowing that they can and will hurt you, but hoping that in the closeness somehow there is an exchange that rubs love off on them.  Imagine loving someone so much it kills you, even if they don’t deserve it.

Imagine what a church would be like if they could only learn to love Judas like Jesus did.  Imagine that you may have been Judas to Jesus in your life too.  Imagine if the people that love you gave up on you because you hurt them.  Imagine where you would be if no one invested in you, took a risk to love you – even when you were unlovely.  Imagine that Jesus died for all the Judas’s of the world.

Who is your Judas?  Surprisingly you will most likely find them not to be the ones you think they are…  and it may even be you…

Fruit Punch Steam Iron

Today I did a really silly thing, and thought it would be worthwhile sharing it with you, hopefully to make your Monday Morning better…

I drink a lot of water, and I love Sigg water bottles. I usually keep one full of water by my bed at night so if I get thirsty I don’t have to get up (to take a drink anyway, but I do have to get up because of what all the water drinking leads to).  It also makes it super convenient when I am ironing my clothes for the day.  When the iron runs out of water I grab the water bottle and fill up the iron.

Sometimes drinking water gets old, but when you pour a glass of Fruit Punch it is way too sweet when you are used to plain water.  So occasionally I will mix the fruit punch with my water so it gives it flavor, but isn’t overpowering.  I did that last night.

So this morning when the iron was low, I grabbed the water bottle to fill it up.  At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me becuase the water coming out of the bottle had a pink tinge to it, then I noticed that there was a lot of pink in the iron’s clear water tank.  It took me a minute to figure it out… then I remembered… Fruit Punch in the iron… yes indeed…

I caught it before the iron started steaming, so I drained it all out, rinsed it out and let it steam for a while before using it.  Thankfully I didn’t use it to iron my yellow shirt before I figured it out…  Trish still doesn’t know so keep it a secret!

So did you do anything silly recently that you can share with us?

Working From Home

I am behind again this week, no suprise, but with a series change I used Monday to work through potential options.  We have one now, and I have done the research on it, so today I am off to put it all together…  Tune in Sunday morning, 10:30 AM @ SRC to find out what it is!!!

Until then, I have to get to work…

Grades

Our kids work really hard in school.  They get good grades but they have to work harder than many other students to get those grades.  Right now the Twins both have A’s in Algebra I.  (higher than I ever got in Algebra!)  We are in the process of deciding whether they are going to remain at the new High School that is renting space from our church or moving them to a larger High School that is more established.  One of the Schools we are interested in had our twins take placement tests recently to see where they should be placed if they attend that school.  We got the results yesterday.  Both of them tested at a Pre-Algebra level.  That means that they are working at a 7-8th grade math level instead of ready to enter 10th grade math.  Another student we know is going through the same process we are with the possibility of a school change and had the same results.

So my question; if you get an A in Algebra at one school and test out at a much lower level at another school, how do you know you are behind and need help?  Why are one school’s standards so much lower than another?  What happens when you believe you are getting a quality education at one school then find out the A grade means nothing in another?

It all seems very confusing.  By the way, the school that tested our kids and found them behind is rated a top 13 High School in Colorado.  Where would you want your kids to go?

Do The Right Thing

I will probably need you to remind me of this at some point, so write it down or cut and paste it into your “save for later” file…

It doesn’t matter if there is a law about it

It doesn’t matter if there is no law about it

It doesn’t matter if you are a politician, businessman, pastor, or mom

Do the right thing…

If more people did the right thing imagine how much better things would be.

It starts with you, no more excuses, I don’t care if you can get away with it for now.  I don’t care if it really isn’t that big a deal.  I don’t care if there is no rule that says you can’t.  I don’t care if you are the only one that will know… if it isn’t the right thing,  don’t do it.  Let’s all start trying harder to do the right thing today…  you with me?

Stumbling Blocks Or Stepping Stones

Yesterday we finished up our Romans series.  We were looking at Romans 14 where Paul, the author of Romans, was telling those that have a strong faith to help out those that have a weak faith.  I built a tower of blocks and asked everyone if it was easier to build a tower or knock it down… we all agreed that it was much easier to knock it down, and we talked about how our nature is always to tear down rather than build up.  It makes us feel better I guess when we are “better” than someone else, but it is not okay to destroy someone on the inside with our words or judgement, and this was the point Paul was making.

We should strive to be the kind of people that are constantly taking initiative, reaching out, building positive community, listening, and being attentive with people that already have enough obstacles in their lives, not the kind of people that are creating more obstacles or stumbling blocks for people!  When was the last time you came along side someone that needed a friend and helped them by just talking through an issue, or provided a meal to a family that was struggling financially, or gave someone that didn’t have a car a lift somewhere?  When was the last time you helped someone facing a difficulty take a small step forward?  When was the last time you were a stepping stone in someone’s life?

It isnt too late to be one today…

Humility

One of the things that drives me crazy about God is that He is more concerned about my character than my comfort.  He teaches me hard lessons and points out the ugly parts of me that I could avoid looking into all my life.  Sometimes the way He does that is the least likely way I would do it if it was up to me…

Like Humility; doesn’t it seem like God uses the LAST PERSON IN THE WORLD you would use to teach yourself humility?  He chooses the one person that you want to keep at a distance to point out a problem, help you out of a difficult situation, or see you make a mistake.  Maybe that is the only way we can learn to be humble…  that drives me crazy.  You?