Today I added a bookshelf complete with a few books to my blog- my web world. My wife wouldn't find this unusual as I can't help but continually add to my book collection in real life as well. I love books.
It's not like that TV show 'Hoarders' where people have an uncontrollable habit of collecting and having their stuff overwhelm their house - but I do have to admit to having boxes of books in the garage. Today was the start of the Keystone neighborhood garage sale and so garage sales were everywhere. And of course I bought some books- but just two which I thought showed great restraint on my part.
Today's purchases included 'Johnny Tremain' an old classic from my grade school days and 'The Good Life' by Charles Colson who writes with great insight. Getting through a Colson book takes me a long time so it may be awhile before I get to it. In the meantime I'm looking forward to a reread of 'Tremain'.
I have this dream that one day I'll turn one of the kids rooms into a library and all my books will regain their freedom. I think books hate boxes. A number of my books reside on living room shelves and bedroom dressers and nightstands- that is till their number grows to big and I am asked to get a box. Sherri's uncle Tom owns 'The Antiquarium' a used bookstore that used to be an Old Market icon. He moved it to Nebraska City and converted an old school and gym into one giant bookstore. What a great life Tom has living in and amongst books where boxes aren't needed!
I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about. Some of you love books and have way more of them than you'll ever read. You keep old books because you may want to read that one again- even knowing you never will. Some of you understand the thrill of finishing a great read. A few of us know what its like to finish a book we had to work to get through- for me that was 'Atonement'. I think every reader secretly thinks about writing their own book like my friend Bob Huerter (see 'Irish Twins' on my bookshelf). For some of us books are so captivating that we captivate as many as we can on shelves and in boxes. We can't help ourselves.
I also have a collection of sorts of 'the Good Book'- Bibles. Some are in different versions, some are study Bibles, some are just a single page, leaves that are hundreds of years old. I like to take them out and open them up and read 'em. They all do really contain in my opinion 'the greatest story ever told'. Plus I have to admit I like a story with a happy ending.
Make sure your Bible isn't gathering dust on a shelf or worse yet in a box somewhere. As my friend Dave says, 'the best version of the Bible is the one that gets read!' I hope to keep my blog bookshelf updated with what's on my reading agenda. I'd like to hear what you are reading as well. Time to stop writing and start reading- have a great weekend!
Blest Regards,
kp
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Evil
"You know, evil comes in many forms, be it a man-eating cow or Joseph Stalin. But you can't let the package hide the pudding. Evil is just plain bad. You don't cotton to it. You gotta smack it on the nose with the rolled up newspaper of goodness. Bad dog! Bad dog!" -The Tick
Saw this quote today on another blog and I thought it was worth sharing. Maybe I would only change the end to read - You gotta smack it on the nose with the rolled up newspaper of the Gospel.
Smack a little evil this weekend! kp
Saw this quote today on another blog and I thought it was worth sharing. Maybe I would only change the end to read - You gotta smack it on the nose with the rolled up newspaper of the Gospel.
Smack a little evil this weekend! kp
Thursday, August 19, 2010
'11'
I just finished reading '11' by Leonard Sweet. The full title is '11 indispensible relationships you can't be without'. I like reading Sweet's books but I have to do it with no distractions because I am always amazed at the number of unique thoughts he presents on almost every page.
When I read a book like this I do so with a highlighter or at the very least a pen to mark the passages that resonate with me. I have to be careful not to over-highlight as I try to set apart those thoughts that I want to be reminded of the next time I pick up this book. I thought it might be interesting to review some of those highlighted excerpts with you.
In just the introduction here are the insights I noted:
'You need others to get the job done. And it's also a lot more fun that way.'
Sweet adds a quote from Larry Crabb a psychologist who said, 'The church is a community of people on a journey to God.' I liked both those thoughts as I am a firm believer in the power of people when they come together. Reminds me of the great concerts and balloon events and sold out dinner theatre events we did together as a church. Most of all I am reminded of the power and beauty of encouragement that believers offer each other.
Sweet adds, 'Disciples of Jesus are "finishers", sprinters who finish races, who "press toward the mark", toward "what lies ahead" and end up at the places to which they are summoned.' And I think how cool it would be to be a part of a congregation, or just a group of people who fit that description. How great it would be to 'end up at the places to which we are summoned' by God. How fulfilling would it be to be able to say 'Okay here we are, made it, got that done for You, now what?'
Another '11' introductory insight: 'The Greek work "morturos" means witness from which we get our word martyr. Martyrs were people who "witnessed", who put their lives where their lips were. Sweet writes a sentence later, 'But before the apostles could be "witnesses to Him" they first had simply "to be with" Him, to be "Withnesses".' I'm sure Sweet would agree that 'witness' and 'withness' are one in the same. I don't think we can be hit and run witnesses - we need to be 'love and stay' withness witnesses, people who 'care and then share' God's great Gospel news.
One last fun quote, 'Yes, sometimes we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Other times we are surrounded by a great cloud of witlesses. But most of all we need to be surrounded by a great cloud of 'Withnesses'. I believe that. We need each other as Paul wrote in Romans 1:12 'I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.'(NLT) Paul calls us Withnesses for each other and to be 'Home on the Range' where 'Seldom is heard a discouraging word'.
These highlights come just from the introduction- and I marked even more in this opening chapter - so there are plenty of things for me to forget and then be reminded of later. The good news is we should all be encouraged by our time together, as we work towards presenting a thankful response to God's great free gifts of love, grace, and eternal life. Here's to each of us being a 'withness' to someone today, an encourager, a care-er, a share-er. See you at the finish line!
Blest Regards,
kp
When I read a book like this I do so with a highlighter or at the very least a pen to mark the passages that resonate with me. I have to be careful not to over-highlight as I try to set apart those thoughts that I want to be reminded of the next time I pick up this book. I thought it might be interesting to review some of those highlighted excerpts with you.
In just the introduction here are the insights I noted:
'You need others to get the job done. And it's also a lot more fun that way.'
Sweet adds a quote from Larry Crabb a psychologist who said, 'The church is a community of people on a journey to God.' I liked both those thoughts as I am a firm believer in the power of people when they come together. Reminds me of the great concerts and balloon events and sold out dinner theatre events we did together as a church. Most of all I am reminded of the power and beauty of encouragement that believers offer each other.
Sweet adds, 'Disciples of Jesus are "finishers", sprinters who finish races, who "press toward the mark", toward "what lies ahead" and end up at the places to which they are summoned.' And I think how cool it would be to be a part of a congregation, or just a group of people who fit that description. How great it would be to 'end up at the places to which we are summoned' by God. How fulfilling would it be to be able to say 'Okay here we are, made it, got that done for You, now what?'
Another '11' introductory insight: 'The Greek work "morturos" means witness from which we get our word martyr. Martyrs were people who "witnessed", who put their lives where their lips were. Sweet writes a sentence later, 'But before the apostles could be "witnesses to Him" they first had simply "to be with" Him, to be "Withnesses".' I'm sure Sweet would agree that 'witness' and 'withness' are one in the same. I don't think we can be hit and run witnesses - we need to be 'love and stay' withness witnesses, people who 'care and then share' God's great Gospel news.
One last fun quote, 'Yes, sometimes we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Other times we are surrounded by a great cloud of witlesses. But most of all we need to be surrounded by a great cloud of 'Withnesses'. I believe that. We need each other as Paul wrote in Romans 1:12 'I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.'(NLT) Paul calls us Withnesses for each other and to be 'Home on the Range' where 'Seldom is heard a discouraging word'.
These highlights come just from the introduction- and I marked even more in this opening chapter - so there are plenty of things for me to forget and then be reminded of later. The good news is we should all be encouraged by our time together, as we work towards presenting a thankful response to God's great free gifts of love, grace, and eternal life. Here's to each of us being a 'withness' to someone today, an encourager, a care-er, a share-er. See you at the finish line!
Blest Regards,
kp
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Elevators and Stairs
As many of you may already know I work at First Data in one of the buildings on the old Aksarben property. Our office building has four floors and I work on the third floor of the south building, what we call AK2.
So this morning I am the last guy on the elevator. Turns out all of the other five folks or so are going to the 4th floor. I announce that I need to go to the third floor. I then commented that I knew what they were all thinking - 'why can't this guy just walk up two stories?' 'Hey', I said, ' I know this because it's exactly what us third floor people think about second floor people - why can't you just take the stairs?'
We then all shared a laugh - and then the fourth floor people agreed that when second floor people get on they better have a good reason - a crutch or a big bag or something. I guess no one likes second floor elevator riders. Turns out fourth floor people can be pretty funny and very insightful.
Anyway, I was just thinking that we all have a pretty good idea of what others need to do - including knowing that second floor people need to take the stairs. But we also know more than that don't we? We know (as we eat ice cream and sit and watch people) that the guy over there needs to loose some weight - why would he let himself get like that? And that gal over there needs to do something with her hair- it looks terrible. Those are just for starters.
Maybe we are best at knowing what others need to do when it comes to faith. They need to come to church more often, and those folks over there need to pay attention to the sermon - this message seems to be a perfect fit for them. And that guy over there? He shouldn't even be here with the way he lives. We can do a pretty good job of seeing around the log in our own eye to see the flaws in others can't we (Matt 7:3-5)? We are pretty good judge Judys and Keiths and and and....
Jesus gave a warning about just this sort of activity towards the end of His sermon on the mount. Maybe when He started talking about giant floor beams (logs) in someone's eye seeing a small splinter in the eye of another He got a laugh or two. But they quickly got a serious message just a sentence later- calling folks who see around logs 'hypocrits'- pretenders, actors. Jesus knew how to turn a funny story serious in a hurry.
So the call this morning is to examine our own lives first and foremost. To make plans to do some beam removal work. Let's put our bad activities underfoot where they belong. Today let's not be judge-mental let's be develop-mental and self-improve-mental if you know what I mean. Oh, and if you are going out today to a second floor location - and I say this to all without any judgement whatsoever - please take the stairs.
Blest Regards,
kp
So this morning I am the last guy on the elevator. Turns out all of the other five folks or so are going to the 4th floor. I announce that I need to go to the third floor. I then commented that I knew what they were all thinking - 'why can't this guy just walk up two stories?' 'Hey', I said, ' I know this because it's exactly what us third floor people think about second floor people - why can't you just take the stairs?'
We then all shared a laugh - and then the fourth floor people agreed that when second floor people get on they better have a good reason - a crutch or a big bag or something. I guess no one likes second floor elevator riders. Turns out fourth floor people can be pretty funny and very insightful.
Anyway, I was just thinking that we all have a pretty good idea of what others need to do - including knowing that second floor people need to take the stairs. But we also know more than that don't we? We know (as we eat ice cream and sit and watch people) that the guy over there needs to loose some weight - why would he let himself get like that? And that gal over there needs to do something with her hair- it looks terrible. Those are just for starters.
Maybe we are best at knowing what others need to do when it comes to faith. They need to come to church more often, and those folks over there need to pay attention to the sermon - this message seems to be a perfect fit for them. And that guy over there? He shouldn't even be here with the way he lives. We can do a pretty good job of seeing around the log in our own eye to see the flaws in others can't we (Matt 7:3-5)? We are pretty good judge Judys and Keiths and and and....
Jesus gave a warning about just this sort of activity towards the end of His sermon on the mount. Maybe when He started talking about giant floor beams (logs) in someone's eye seeing a small splinter in the eye of another He got a laugh or two. But they quickly got a serious message just a sentence later- calling folks who see around logs 'hypocrits'- pretenders, actors. Jesus knew how to turn a funny story serious in a hurry.
So the call this morning is to examine our own lives first and foremost. To make plans to do some beam removal work. Let's put our bad activities underfoot where they belong. Today let's not be judge-mental let's be develop-mental and self-improve-mental if you know what I mean. Oh, and if you are going out today to a second floor location - and I say this to all without any judgement whatsoever - please take the stairs.
Blest Regards,
kp
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Soundtrack of Your Life
I've determined that movies without music would be boring. Actually I think they still make those- they're called documentories. Music seems to make the action more exciting, the loss greater, the love deeper and the ending more meaingful.
Don't you agree? I mean can you imagine the 'Titanic' without 'My Heart Will Go On' or 'Top Gun' without 'Danger Zone'. Sarah McLachlan sang the haunting song 'Angel' in 'City of Angels'. I came up with a few movies to see if you can 'Name That Tune'- the song or songs that you remember from each:
The Guardian
Rocky
Back to the Future
Caddyshack
Ghost
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Big Chill
That list has some oldies but goodies as far as movies go (probably showing my age) and great music as well. Maybe you have some personal favorites - songs in movies. At our house Jake knew every song from Beauty and the Beast - even though he now claims to not remember a single one. Oddly, Sherri knows every word by heart of 'Youre a Mean One Mr. Grinch'. And she has worn out two copies of the soundtrack from 'Simon Birch'- just another 'thing I love about Sherri' oddity. Anyway, I think we all have our movie soundtracks and song favorites.
I like the ones from my list and a few others. As far as touching music goes, Van Morrison sings 'Someone Like You' in the first Bridget Jones movie - very cool ending. Bob Seger sings 'Living Inside My Heart' in 'About Last Night'. A couple songs from 'Notting Hill' were great heart-touchers as well - 'Ain't No Sunshine' and 'When You Say Nothing at All' which I'll link below:
Chris Tomlin did the impossible, made 'Amazing Grace' even better in the film of the same name. I love his version. Songs from 'The Sound of Music', Disney's 'The Jungle Book' and 'Sister Act' are all on my ipod as well. Ok, I'm odd too.
I guess in a way what I'm really thinking about here is how great the gift of music is. How it not only makes movies better but our lives as well. How music can deepen our worship experience or just our drive to work. In short, music is just another great gift brought to us by our wonderful creator. The soundtrack of our lives is how we need to give thanks for music and all His gifts of love and amazing grace, and eternal life. Any powerful music in your life's thankful soundtrack so far?
I want to see a few comments on your favorite movie music. I'll close with one more great song for a movie ending. This one comes from 'Dirty Dancing'- 'Time of My Life' maybe the best song and scene combo to end a movie. I can't put the video link here but can give you the web address to see it again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmILPAcRQo .
Have a great weekend and sing out in church this Sunday! kp
OK- I couldn't resist- one more link for 'Tootsie' (from 1982! almost 30 years ago -man am I getting old) - remember the ending song? If you don't well then just click 'play' below:
Don't you agree? I mean can you imagine the 'Titanic' without 'My Heart Will Go On' or 'Top Gun' without 'Danger Zone'. Sarah McLachlan sang the haunting song 'Angel' in 'City of Angels'. I came up with a few movies to see if you can 'Name That Tune'- the song or songs that you remember from each:
The Guardian
Rocky
Back to the Future
Caddyshack
Ghost
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Big Chill
That list has some oldies but goodies as far as movies go (probably showing my age) and great music as well. Maybe you have some personal favorites - songs in movies. At our house Jake knew every song from Beauty and the Beast - even though he now claims to not remember a single one. Oddly, Sherri knows every word by heart of 'Youre a Mean One Mr. Grinch'. And she has worn out two copies of the soundtrack from 'Simon Birch'- just another 'thing I love about Sherri' oddity. Anyway, I think we all have our movie soundtracks and song favorites.
I like the ones from my list and a few others. As far as touching music goes, Van Morrison sings 'Someone Like You' in the first Bridget Jones movie - very cool ending. Bob Seger sings 'Living Inside My Heart' in 'About Last Night'. A couple songs from 'Notting Hill' were great heart-touchers as well - 'Ain't No Sunshine' and 'When You Say Nothing at All' which I'll link below:
Chris Tomlin did the impossible, made 'Amazing Grace' even better in the film of the same name. I love his version. Songs from 'The Sound of Music', Disney's 'The Jungle Book' and 'Sister Act' are all on my ipod as well. Ok, I'm odd too.
I guess in a way what I'm really thinking about here is how great the gift of music is. How it not only makes movies better but our lives as well. How music can deepen our worship experience or just our drive to work. In short, music is just another great gift brought to us by our wonderful creator. The soundtrack of our lives is how we need to give thanks for music and all His gifts of love and amazing grace, and eternal life. Any powerful music in your life's thankful soundtrack so far?
I want to see a few comments on your favorite movie music. I'll close with one more great song for a movie ending. This one comes from 'Dirty Dancing'- 'Time of My Life' maybe the best song and scene combo to end a movie. I can't put the video link here but can give you the web address to see it again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmILPAcRQo .
Have a great weekend and sing out in church this Sunday! kp
OK- I couldn't resist- one more link for 'Tootsie' (from 1982! almost 30 years ago -man am I getting old) - remember the ending song? If you don't well then just click 'play' below:
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Diamonds!
I debated about telling you this story but I thought it was kinda funny so I will share it with you. It takes a bit of a warped sense of humor to appreciate - see what you think.
Last weekend Sherri and I and my mom and dad headed down to Maryville Missouri to get the house ready for another school year. There was more than plenty to do as our son Jake will never be mistaken for a home improvement guy or a lawn professional. So the first line of attack was to get the yard looking good.
My dad had brought along his weed-eater and was raising Cain with the fenceline tall grasses when he suddenly came to an abrupt stop. 'Keith, come over here and look at this', he told me. I stepped over to see what he was pointing at. It was a beetle of sorts with two beautiful intricate diamond designs on his back.
'Look at that will you. Isn't creation amazing?', he said with a bit of awe in his voice.
'Absolutely dad. It's amazing see how much beauty, detail, time and attention God put into His creation. Very cool.'
And with that said dad crushed the bug as he tried to scramble away.
'Let me remind you to always take time to admire God's handiwork before you kill it.' was his final comment on the subject with a wry smile. Which just struck me as funny. Like I said, it's funny for those like me with a bit of a warped sense of humor.
But maybe squishing bugs after admiring them isn't so odd, maybe it's something we do all the time without thinking. Like admiring how cool it is to have friends and then a little later doing some gossiping about them. Or having a great experience at church, then in the afternoon swearing or using bad language for no reason. Or loving your wife so much, then being cold or heartless when it comes to those in need. We all have some bug squisher in us.
Maybe I'm trying to stretch to make a point - maybe things like this don't 'bug' you. Maybe trying to do good, wanting to do good and then not doing good and in fact doing the opposite of good - which clearly bugged the apostle Paul - seems normal to us. It shouldn't. God is calling us to fly higher, to be a beautiful new creation ourselves.
Remember the guy in the Bible who was forgiven much, then went out and wouldn't forgive little. He ended up getting tossed in the clink for life because of his bug squishing attitude. The encouragement for today is for us to live as people ever mindful of God's great gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. Enjoy life, savor creation, thank God and then pay it forward - let the bug go.
Blest Regards,
kp
Last weekend Sherri and I and my mom and dad headed down to Maryville Missouri to get the house ready for another school year. There was more than plenty to do as our son Jake will never be mistaken for a home improvement guy or a lawn professional. So the first line of attack was to get the yard looking good.
My dad had brought along his weed-eater and was raising Cain with the fenceline tall grasses when he suddenly came to an abrupt stop. 'Keith, come over here and look at this', he told me. I stepped over to see what he was pointing at. It was a beetle of sorts with two beautiful intricate diamond designs on his back.
'Look at that will you. Isn't creation amazing?', he said with a bit of awe in his voice.
'Absolutely dad. It's amazing see how much beauty, detail, time and attention God put into His creation. Very cool.'
And with that said dad crushed the bug as he tried to scramble away.
'Let me remind you to always take time to admire God's handiwork before you kill it.' was his final comment on the subject with a wry smile. Which just struck me as funny. Like I said, it's funny for those like me with a bit of a warped sense of humor.
But maybe squishing bugs after admiring them isn't so odd, maybe it's something we do all the time without thinking. Like admiring how cool it is to have friends and then a little later doing some gossiping about them. Or having a great experience at church, then in the afternoon swearing or using bad language for no reason. Or loving your wife so much, then being cold or heartless when it comes to those in need. We all have some bug squisher in us.
Maybe I'm trying to stretch to make a point - maybe things like this don't 'bug' you. Maybe trying to do good, wanting to do good and then not doing good and in fact doing the opposite of good - which clearly bugged the apostle Paul - seems normal to us. It shouldn't. God is calling us to fly higher, to be a beautiful new creation ourselves.
Remember the guy in the Bible who was forgiven much, then went out and wouldn't forgive little. He ended up getting tossed in the clink for life because of his bug squishing attitude. The encouragement for today is for us to live as people ever mindful of God's great gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. Enjoy life, savor creation, thank God and then pay it forward - let the bug go.
Blest Regards,
kp
Wayfarer!
I saw this YouTube video today and thought you might enjoy seeing/hearing it as well. Of course it takes me back to the day when 'Selah' came to Atonement and we were blessed with a wonderful evening of music and faith. I'll never forget the ending to that evening- a packed church singing 'Amazing Grace' as 'Selah' silently exited out the side door. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
The words to this song can do the same. Enjoy. Blest Regards, kp
The words to this song can do the same. Enjoy. Blest Regards, kp
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