Dragonflies

Read a great illustration of life and death and eternal life by Bruce Theilmann this week in John Ortberg's book 'Know Doubt'. I found it to be an insightful look at our present situation and what is to come. See what you think.

Imagine a colony of grubs living on the bottom of a swamp. And every once in a while, one of these grubs is inclined to climb a leaf stem to the surface. Then he disappears above the surface and never returns. All the grubs wonder why this is so and what it must be like up there, so they counsel among themselves and agree that the next one who goes up will come back and tell the others.


Not long after that, one of the grubs feels that urge and climbs that leaf stem and goes out above the surface onto a lily pad. And there in the warmth of the sun, he falls asleep. While he sleeps, the carapace of the tiny creature breaks open, and out of the inside of the grub comes a magnificent dragonfly with beautiful, wide, rainbow-hued, iridescent wings.

And he spreads those wings and flies, soaring out over those waters. But then he remembers the commitment he has made to those behind, yet now he knows he cannot return. They would not recognize him in the first place, and beyond that, he could not live again in such a place. But one thought is his that takes away all the distress: they, too, shall climb the stem, and they, too, shall know the glory.


Bruce Thielemann, "Christus Imperator,"

Roddy!

Sherri and I went to church this Sunday at Christ Community and saw Roddy Chong. If you don't know who he is, don't feel bad- we didn't know either, other than the fact that he was a violinist with the TransSiberian Orchestra. Turns out is he a great musician but an even better Christian witness. Anyway, great service and thanks to Christ Community for bringing him in and putting a flyer up in No Frills so we could find out about it! Here's a YouTube clip for you to see what Roddy sounds and looks like (with Celine Dion) ......

Difference Makers

I'm going to share a hard story with you. One of those stories that just makes you wonder why things are the way they are. A story that encourages us to be difference makers in this world.

Through my daily radiation and and weekly chemo treatments I've have a pretty positive attitude. I don't claim any special mental powers in saying this, rather I have the good fortune of going through these treatments as a way of trying to prevent a reoccurence of my cancer. Sherri and I meet others however for whom treatment is at best only extending for a short time the little time they have left.

We met just such a person and family last month. Some of the meds I take with my chemo put me to sleep pretty quickly. During these times Sherri has the opportunity to talk with nurses and other patients. Not to long ago she talked with a lady and her husband and son. She was getting treatment for her stage 4 cervical cancer.

Our hearts broke for this young family as we learned of her bad news diagnosis. Time was not on their side. Sherri called her this week and learned that things have not gotten any better - that cancer has made life difficult. Out of respect for their privacy these are the only details I'll share with you. But you get the point, you've known family or friends or neighbors who had the same difficult story - unfortunately this young lady isn't alone.

My thoughts keep returning to this family. How different treatment is for them than it is for us. How sad it is to think about leaving a young son. How unfair it all seems sometimes. Life comes with great joys but also with amazing hurts doesn't it?

I keep thinking about Jesus' answer when asked about others who were killed through no fault of their own- were they bad people? Jesus answered they were no different- certainly not worse- than anyone else, but then He moved the focus from 'why' to those who were listening- including you and me, and said we need to repent or perish as well. I want to know why young moms die of cancer and I want it to stop and Jesus says to me - focus instead on what is important- eternal life where there are no tears and there is no cancer. Stop concentrating on the broken box of our life and look instead at the perfect gift inside of eternal life.

Even knowing this, we grieve over this situation. Jesus does too I am sure. He wept at Lazurus' death. He understands losing loved ones is never easy. So we consider our own hearts then respond in love. We have a gift certificate charity of sorts where we give prepaid cards to various stores to the nurses to give to patients who need some help. We'll do this here as well. If you'd like to help just let Sherri or me know. Sometimes making a small difference in someone's life can make all the difference. May God grant us the opportunity to make a difference in this story.

Blest Regards,
kp

Books vs Boxes

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

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

'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

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