Cow Tongue and Toothpaste...

I recently had the opportunity to do storytime for a bunch of kids in grades 4-6, as part of my churches AWANA program.


If you are ever in need of an attention grabbing object lesson for kids, let me share the one I used:


First, you have to go to your local grocery store and buy a big ol ugly cow tongue (sorry to any of you who eat those things - but, really!!??!!).
You also pick up a large tube of toothpaste. The particular brand simply doesn't matter, just get the jumbo size tube.


Then, the big ol ugly cow tongue goes into a STRONG ziplock bag (so it is never to escape). And the STRONG ziplock bag goes into a green garbage bag.


Before you allow the room full of grades 4-6 eager beavers to reach their hand into the green garbage bag, and feel the big ol ugly cow tongue, you make them promise (and they will promise) that they won't shout out any guesses of what they think they're touching through the STRONG ziplock bag.


Then, you have a rediculous BLAST watching each of the eager beavers' reactions as they handle the big ol ugly cow tongue - because they don't have a CLUE what they are feeling. Did I say rediculous BLAST? Rediculous. BLAST.


After everyone who wants a turn has had a turn, you ask those eager beavers, "What do you think is inside the green garbage bag, inside the STRONG ziplock bag?" And your rediculous BLAST continues as they will guess every imaginable gross, soft, squishy thing they can think of.


And, then, someone will guess "a tongue?".


You'll reach, slowly, into the green garbage bag (this slowmo - or should I say slowMOO... ahahahaha, sorry - is totally for effect. Work it!) and you'll pull that big ol ugly cow tongue out of the green garbage bag. The room will go wild because it really is gross to look at in the first place, but even worse after 30+ eager beaver hands have been squishing it. Consider yourself warned.


Let me tell you though, those eager beavers are primed!
They are ready to hear what you have to say because they have no idea what to expect from you!
Their interest is more than peaked!
And, this becomes the absolute perfect time to turn them right to God's Word and talk about what it says in Proverbs 18:21, that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...".


You want them to think about what that means.
Ask them to, "Give examples of the kind of 'death' that a tongue can bring?" They'll know.
And you ask them to, "Give examples of the kind of 'life' that a tongue can bring?" They'll know that too - remember, they are eager beavers!


Then you take that jumbo sized tube of toothpaste and say, "Pretend that the actual toothpaste represents the words we say and pretend that the jumbo tube represents our mouth."


Then you squeeze all the toothpaste out of that jumbo tube. They watch every move you make.


"Now that we have said all these death words, or life words, would someone please come and put the toothpaste back into the jumbo sized tube?"


"Anyone?"


You keep asking.


"Any eager beaver?"


But no one can.


"Have you ever said something that you wish you hadn't said?", you ask. They can all relate, even as little grades 4-6 eager beavers.


You say more.
"You know, once we say something, our something is... gone."
"We can't take it back."


Because, as you (yup - you)and I know, once we say something it's... out there. Never. To. Be. Recaptured.


You say even more.
"And the power that whatever we said can either bring 'life' (which makes us and others feel happy), or 'death' (which makes us and others feel sad and horrible)."


Then, you say a few more things about tongues.
And you remind them how they can remember EVERYTIME they brush their teeth (toothpaste and tongue tie in) that they can choose to bring 'life' or 'death' with their words.


Now, you have one more opportunity to let those eager beavers get a last look at, or feel of, that big ol ugly cow tongue. It's as they pass by you on their way out of the room to meet up with their parents or care-givers.


And, you chuckle because you KNOW what the conversation on the ride home is going to be about!
It is at this exact moment that the biggest revelation hits you.


All of a sudden you realize that it wasn't just an object lesson for grades 4-6 eager beavers...


Rediculous.




until next time,
lisa

Joining:

Wow Us Wednesday
Whatever Wedneday
Delightfully Inspiring Thursday
Inspiration Friday

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What's in it for us... ?

I don't know about you - but I like to know all I can about events that are billed as events specific to and for men.
Let's just say that I have an inquiring mind. :o)

Now, a couple weeks ago, at one of the local churches, here, there was a Promise Keepers event.

Have you ever heard of Promise Keepers?

One of the pastors, who I work with, attended.
And my inquiring mind couldn't help but poke around for information. Even though I wanted to resist the urge to uncover any secrets, I secumbed to the... temptation.
I mean, do they have a special club chant or moto?
A secret handshake?
Do they do chest bumps?

What really goes on at Promise Keepers events? And, more importantly, is there anything in it for us ladies?

Here are a few of the questions I asked, along with the answers I received:

What exactly is Promise Keepers?
"Promise Keepers is a global movement that is all about men becoming, growing, and living as disciples of Jesus Christ. Leaving no man behind.
Promise Keepers wants to ignite and equip men to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ – resulting in families, churches, workplaces, communities and nations being impacted by the grace of God, through the lives of men."

Do you think this type of event meets a need in our culture, today?
"PK definitely meets a need in the lives of today’s men. It is safe to say that most men don’t have the kind of relationship with another man that would challenge and encourage them. I really believe it is essential for men to have times for just them, times when they can talk openly about issues specific to them."

Who were the speakers/topics at this event?
"Bill Farrel, Ted DiBiase, Colin McCartney and Lennett Anderson"

"The whole conference dealt with “Legacy”. Every man is leaving a legacy – whether it's a good one or bad.
We were reminded that our legacy can be felt 3-4 generations after us.
That the roads we choose are the actual opportunities we have to live in and to leave a legacy.
And, that whoever is 'fathering us' (mentoring us) is helping to shape our legacy. We don’t just stumble onto a legacy - we have to be intentional."

I know that when a large group of women gather together, for a common purpose, there are definitely favorite moments for me. What was one favorite moment for you, at this last weekend’s conference?
One of my favorite moments was when Lennett spoke. He used a lot of scripture that motivated me, personally. One thing he said was, 'moments wait for no one'."

Did you walk away with any interesting statistics or bits of information that have been lodged in your mind forever?
One statistic I already knew was this: 20% of church congregation members do 80% of the work. However, the fact that 90% of that 20% is women - was new to me. And it made me want our church to be different.

There are "wins" for men, in general, when women are refreshed and encouraged via special events. Are there potential "wins" for women in the Promise Keepers movement? What?
"I would say that a possible win for women would be that their man got to experience a small taste of what life could be like if they had another man to talk openly and honestly with."

If you had the opportunity to pitch another PK event to women, to persuade them that encouraging their favorite guy to attend such an event would be a good thing, what would you say?
I’d say, “get your man there at all costs!”
I’d say, “Your man needs other Christian men in his life to help him be all that God wants him to be.”
I’d say, “Even when your man resists your suggestion – don’t listen to him - keep encouraging him to go, even get another man to invite him along, because your guy will be challenged to step up his game at home and at church. God does work at PK events.”

Thanks PDC for your time, this has all been veweee veweee interesting.

One other thing he said, that stuck in my head as information well worth passing on, was this: what parents tolerate, children will embrace.

Lots to think about.

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The Sammie story...

A couple weeks ago my sister and her family went to Florida for some vacation time.

As is true for any of us, planning vacation always includes delegating some responsibilities in order for our holiday time to be truly free from worrying about "home".

Well, my niece needed someone to take care of her little hamster, Sammie.

I don't quite know what it is about grandchildren - but they seem to be able to ask just about anything of their grandparents and receive a "yes" for the answer.

OF COURSE Grammie would hamstersit Sammie!! And, really, who could resist the wild fluffs and tufts of fur, the busy little nose and the cute little tongue and lips?
Not Grammie.

So the Dining Room table got cleared off for Sammie and all his housekeeping needs. Yes, I did say the Dining Room table - this is the newest thing in TableScaping!

Well, the long and the short of this Sammie story is that just three short days into the hamstersitting gig, it was all over. Sammie died. And, I'm NOT even kidding.

Oh my.
Poor Sammie.
He had no idea what I would have given him.
He had me in the palm of his... little paws.
Not that I could have changed Sammie's future, I'm not God.

Have you ever wondered if God ever thinks,
Poor Lisa. Poor [insert your name here].
She has no idea what she could have, in Me. If she would only ask.

I wonder how many blessings we miss because we never ask the One who CAN change our future?

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Are you part of a team...?

Someone shared these "team" thoughts with me and some of my friends. I share them with you.
If you are part of any leadership team - read, learn, practise, soar.

From the book "A Leadership Teams Code of Conduct", by Hans Finzel:
1) Personal success is measured by the success of our team.

2) We will practise HOT communication: Honest, Open, Transparent. No secrets that could affect the team.

3) Each member of our team has a special gift that contributes to the whole group.

4) We will always speak positively of our teammates in public. They are safe with me even in their absence.

5) If I have a problem with a teammate, I go to her/him first.

6) When in doubt, I will give my teammate the benefit of the doubt.

7) We will pray for each member of our team, regularly.

8) We will support, in public, decisions we made in private. Even if we were not all 100% for it.

9) Confidences will remain safely inside our group. (if they don't the group begins to shut down)

10) Grace will be given, freely, when we encounter one another's faults.

Well... that should leave us with enough to think of for today, and tomorrow, and and and and.

blessings teamies!

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I wonder...

Well, today is the day I've been wondering about for, roughly, 8 short weeks.

For any of you who have ventured to another part of God's great big world as part of a short term mission team, you know exactly how I feel.

However, I had no idea THIS is how you felt...

I wonder what adventures await me in India? (well, beyond squatter toilets, that is)

I wonder when the butterflies in my stomach will stop their acrobatics?
I wonder who I will meet.
I wonder if there will be one, or more, women who I just "click" with?
I wonder what it will be like to communicate through an interpreter?
I wonder what I will see, what I will hear?
I wonder what I will eat? (ohhhh, my... butterflies again)
I wonder how many beautiful colors I will see?
I wonder which experience(s) will leave me breathless?
I wonder how many pictures I'll take?
I wonder what I will buy as a beautiful reminder?
I wonder how God will surprise me?
I wonder what I will learn?
I wonder if I will ever go back?

I feel very wonder full this morning.

Some day I'll share the stories that began as wonder, only to turn into an adventure that changed my life.

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Psalm 23 with a twist...

A group of ladies have been studying the book of Psalms. And, today, time was spent considering Psalm 23 - the most well known, of all the Psalms.

I thought this might be enjoyed by all...
It is not original to me.

The Lord is my Shepherd... (that's Relationship)
I shall not want... (that's Supply)
He maketh me lie down in green pastures... (that's Rest)
He leadeth me beside the still waters... (that's Refreshment)
He restoreth my soul... (that's Healing)
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness... (that's Guidance)
For His name's sake... (that's Purpose)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... (that's Testing)
I will fear no evil... (that's Protection)
For Thou art with me... (that's Faithfulness)
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me... (that's Discipline)
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies... (that's Hope)
Thou annointest my head with oil... (that's Consecration)
My cup runneth over... (that's Abundance)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... (that's Blessing)
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord... (that's Security)
Forever... (that's Eternity)

That's... the Gospel!

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The Power of a Woman's Words

Our study this fall is The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes. Our words have power and sustainability. Our words linger in the hearts and minds of those who hear them longer then the seconds it took to speak them. I have always struggled with saying things to make a joke or a quick come back and seldome think of the consequences of those words. The past two years a friend and I have both agreed that our tongues need to be tamed. In a recent sermon series in James, I learned that I can only learn to tame my tongue with help from the Holy Spirit and by practice.

One area I feel that I can use my words for good is to encourage others.
Encouragement is free but it is priceless to the one who needs it most. I don't mean fluffy encouragement. I mean true genuine encouragement to everyone in your sphere of influence. Starting with family and friends and spreading it to neighbors, teachers, strangers, leaders...the list can go on and on. God's word is the greatest gift of encouragement. Take some time this week and encourage someone!

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What would you do without...

friends?

If we say that sentence over and over again and place verbal emphasis on a different word each time, the shock of the question hits us in a slightly different way each time we repeat it.

Try it. Say it, out loud, six times. Putting emphasis on a different.

What would you do without friends?
What would you do without friends?
What would you do without friends?
What would you do without friends?
What would you do without friends?
What woudl you do without friends?

Can you hear the difference?

While the shock of the question hits us differently each time (depending on which word we emphasize), if you are like me, the same sense of panic strkes in my heart of hearts each time I say it.

It's more than a bit fearful to consider a period of time (days, weeks, months, years) without friends, and down right paralizing to consider a lifetime without friends.

Different friends meet different needs in our lives. It's true.
It's almost like God knew we would need that.

Almost... what a hoot!

Our Creator, God, knew exactly what we would need. Friendship, being one.

Take a minute today and tell a friend how much they mean to you.
Remember, friends are not disposable. Nor are they guaranteed.

They are, however, a gift.

I'm playing make-up makeover with one of my friends, today.
Can hardly wait.

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Grace and Salt ...

Wednesday.

"Halfway to the weekend" day.

"W2W" day (women 2 women).

"Community Care" day.

"The Power of a Woman's Words" by Sharon Jaynes, day.


I'm currently studying that book, with a group of, roughly, 100 other women.
Last week's chapter discussed the power of a woman's words to... the world. What could we really do for the world and through the people of world if we were 100% conscious of our words - with everyone we met.

E V E R Y O N E.

Our words can be encouraging, or not. Positive or not. Rude or not. True or not.

And,
no
matter
what
we
say
we affect our world. Because our words affect the people in our world. And those people affect other people and so on and so on and so on (remind you of a shampoo commercial from days gone by?)

The effect our words can have is, really, rather staggering.

Check out Colossians 4:6 with me.
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

This verse is discussing opportunities we have to share about God's love, specifically. However, I believe if we uncover it a wee bit more, there is potential for a much broader application.

"...so that you may know how to answer everyone."
That is HUGE. Who wouldn't want to know how to answer everyone?

The right answers can literally be on the tip of our tongues IF we "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt..."

There it is. Grace and Salt.
Grace means not being treated in a way that the deepest, darkest, ugliest parts of us deserve. Salt does three things - it flavors, heals, and preserves.

Have you caught the broader application?
It's not just about WHAT answer we give. It's also about HOW we answer everyone.

Can you imagine what our world would be like if we answered everyone with grace and salt?

You and I chat with many people. And we enjoy giving good advice, helpful advice, right advice. The Bible says that if we are full of grace and seasoned with salt, we will know how to answer everyone. What we say will be spoken out of love and will be purposed to heal, flavor or preserve.

Oh, that this would permeate my very being.

Grace and salt.
Grace and salt.
Grace and salt.

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January in October...

A friend told me, last week, that she was working her way through Oswald Chambers' book "My utmost for His highest".

She peaked my interest in a book that I had read once before, and enjoyed, but had forgotten 99.999% of it's contents.

So, this past Saturday morning I sent myself on a bit of a treasure hunt and was rewarded with actually locating my copy. I began at the beginning, which means at the page dated January 1st.

And, WHAM!

What do you think about this sentence:
"Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only - my utmost for His highest."

If I thought/lived like that, what would change in my world?
If you thought/lived like that, what would change in your world?
And, could we change our world, together, with this radical thinking/living?

Another question:
How much of whatever keeps us from thinking/living this way comes from pure will?
And, not pure will as in unmixed with any other matter.
But, pure will as in us exercising our will (wants, control, selfishness) over His.

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Through Christ's Eyes

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Phil 1:6

Sometimes when something happens that disappoints me I just can't get it out of my mind. It consumes me mentally, emotionally and physically. I've been holding on to a huge disappointment and while I sat in church about to take communion, the Holy Spirit spoke directly to my heart. He said "Let it go." I could not reflect on Christ's sacrifice for me and how much I have disappointed him and not show the same grace in my situation. He looks at me through his eyes of love and forgiveness and that humbles me. I truly believe that looking at things through Christ's eyes makes the emotions that come from disappointment easier to bear. Thank you Lord for the peace that you so freely give. Let me wake up each day and pray to see the world through your eyes. What a different view I would have!

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Family. A big, 6 letter word...

Have you ever looked up the word "family" in a dictionary?
If not, do.
There are many definitions.

This past Friday evening I attended a "family potluck". The dynamic of that particular group was such that not one of the original "family members" were blood related. Yet, we have something in common that brings us together.

This past Saturday evening I attended a "family cookout". The dynamic of that particular group was the opposite of Friday evening. We were clearly blood related.

It's interesting that you and I could have different groups of people in our lives and that we probably consider more than one of these groups, family. Or at the very least, like family. You are enough like me, I'm sure, to be thankful for this fact about life.

I'm single, without children. And I would be lying if I said that there are never times when I wish that my family included more people besides myself.

Which is why I am thankful for many definitions to the word family.
And for all the different groups of people whom I share commonalities with and whom I love, like family.

Mostly, I'm thankful for the family God gave me - my Frankland peeps, and their peeps.

Who is in your family?
In mine there is Katheleen (my mom and our most treasured Queenie), Tanya and Andrew and Nicole, Jenna and Bradley, Paula and Jonathon and Hannah.

Whom do you consider family?
For me, simply too many people to list.

Two very different, yet similar, questions.
It's interesting.

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Warnings schmornings...

Every single day of the last week we, Nova Scotians, listened to multiple warnings and updates concerning Hurricane Earl - along with suggestions and reminders on how to best prepare for hurricanes (Earl or otherwise).

A bit of history for you:
On September 28, 2003, Hurricane Juan hit Halifax and much, much more of Nova Scotia. It went Right... Through... Us.

And we remember it. Some after effects are still visible.

Before Juan was part of our province’s history, Nova Scotians had nothing to draw on as far as up close and personal experience with hurricanes. We had nothing to measure the word “hurricane” up against.

Sadly, knowing the dictionary definition nor viewing pictures of hurricane destruction from other parts of the world did not do for us what personal experience did.

It's not like we had not been warned about the inevitable arrival of Juan. We had been. And we had been told to prepare for strong, dangerous winds and high, dangerous waves. Prepare by bringing outside furniture in, prepare any watercraft you may own, prepare for power loss by having candles/matches/propane/batteries/flashlights on hand, plan to stay off highways during the storm, and by all means stay away from and out of coastal waters.

Some folks heeded the warnings, and some didn’t.

Why is that?
Why do we believe warnings are for “them”?

Let’s flash forward to September 2010. This, my friends, is where personal experience comes in to play. See, in 2003 we did not predict well enough nor did we play scenarios through far enough to understand what having no power would actually, completely, fully mean - even for those of us who prepared like we were encouraged to, we were not fully prepared.
No power meant no ATM machines. And no ATM machines meant no $$. Which translated into no groceries, and/or no gas. No power also meant no washer or dryer… for many days. No water meant NO WATER - none for drinking, for showering, for flushing toilets, none for NOthing.

Soooooooo, after a week of warnings and reminders (from news anchors as well as my sister), AND after the personal experience with Juan, I decided that in preparation for our roaring visitor, Earl, I would:
bring the outside furniture in
locate my lighter/candles and flashlight/batteries
fill up my gas tank
have cash on hand
grocery shop before hand (and, grrrrrrrrrrrr, even pay for drinking water)
recharge phone batteries
get caught up on the laundry pile
cancell at least PART of my long weekend plans... grrrrrrrrrrrrr again.

This time round I would heed the warnings, and then some.

It all made me wonder this:
Why don't we (you and I) heed God’s warnings in our lives? I mean, when He shows us “pictures” of destruction from previous life storms, why don’t we (you and I) pay attention? Why do we (you and I) believe the warnings must be for "them?

Yet, He loves us (you and I).
Amazing.

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Watching and listening...

I have two sisters.
An older sister, named Tanya.
And a younger sister, named Paula.

My sisters are both married and have children.
Tanya and Andrew have three children. Nicole, Jenna and Bradley.
Paula and Jonathon have one child. Hannah.

There is a mountain range in Banff National Park, Alberta, called “The Three Sisters”. That’s us. The three Frankland sisters.

We are best friends.

The act of sharing was part and parcel for us, growing up. We shared some toys. We did the whole “handmedown” cloths thing. We shared bedrooms and bathrooms.
Sometimes we enjoyed sharing and sometimes we didn’t. That, too, was part and parcel of growing up.

Now that we are all adults we share tons of stuff. You know, I honestly don't know of much that either one of us would not share with, loan to, or give to the other.

We often (very often) share… BOOKS.
For years we have shared books.
We are book hounds.

My nieces and nephew have witnessed this kind of exchange happen over and over and over and over again.

Now, I must make a confession.
If I were still a child and still making Birthday and Christmas wish lists, my lists would be absolutely stogged full of Disney’s “Tink” paraphernalia.
I love Tink.
She is so pretty, and magical, and fun. And pretty, and magical and fun!

I would be up to my eyeballs in Tink stuff. Tink pencils, erasers, crayons, markers and scissors, Tink jammies and slippers, Tink nail polish and lip gloss, Tink earrings, Tink alarm clock, Tink bed sheets, Tink coloring books, Tink umbrella, Tink knapsack and Tink toys (have you seen all her pretty little friends?).

Ok – back to the book discussion...

My youngest niece spent a couple days visiting this summer.
And guess what she brought me?
She brought me a book to read, one she had gotten from the library and had just finished reading herself.
It was titled “The Trouble with Tink”.

She was sure I would enjoy it.

She was right.
One of the best book I've ever read!

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GLSUmmit - aka: fire hose... part 3

I feel a wee bit like an Aerobics Instructor... three more, two more, ONE MORE!

You can do it people... one more day of shared, "new" and "review" lessons.

Here goes, again:

Blake Mycoskie (TOMS Shoes, Inc)
1) A company may not be able to incorporate "one for one" (every one bought, one is given away) into the culture. But it is possible to incorporate "giving" into any company culture.
2) Strategic partnerships!

Jack Welch
1) Be yourself and be comfortable with yourself!
2) Teams with the best players, who work together as a team, win.
3) Do everything you can to stop the meeting after the meeting.
4) Hiring is hard.
5) Succession is brutal.

T.D. Jakes
1) Leadership is always about transition, NOT maintaining.
2) People are passionate to do something that is within their reach.
3) People work best with people they read well. So you must be willing to show your team who you are. Otherwise it all becomes about trying to understand.
4) Sometimes, when you spend tons of time encouraging people, they go home with your courage.
5) If you only bring people like you, around you - they will compete with you, NOT complete you. Good teams add to you, they accessorize (accessorize - talkin my language!!)
6) Make confidants out of people who are FOR you.

My purchases
1) CRAVE: The Documentary hosted by Erwin McManus
A quote from the DVD cover, "What role does our deepest human cravings for intimacy, destiny and meaning play in our search for God? Crave: The Documnetary explores how regardless of race, background or spirituality, we all have one thing in common: the cravings of our soul."
2) A book titled "GOING MISSIONAL - Conversations with 13 Canadian Churches Who Have Embraced Missional Life". I have read half this book, so far. It is really interesting to learn what other church families do to help their communities.
3) A book titled "The Land Between - Finding God in Difficult Transitions". This has been a great read, also. Who has not been in a difficult transition? Who has not questioned God?

TA DA! There you have it.
Now we all feel fed with a fire hose.

Like I said in part one, I don't look any different.

But I sure think differently.

Global Leadership Summit - September 20-30, 2011. Mark your calendar.

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GLSUmmit - aka: fire hose... part 2

So, what did you think?
Were my first batch of shared "new" and "review" lessons interesting to you?

I hope so.

Here goes again:

Adam Hamilton
1) No matter how you handle crisis, there are going to be people who leave the church.
2) No one is beyond redemption because God is the God of second chances.

Andy Stanley
1) Every organization has problems that should not be solved and tensions that should not be resolved.
2) Progress depends on successful management of tensions.
3) Don't think in terms of balance, think in terms rhythm.

Erwin McManus
1) Be still and know.
2) Be where you are.

Jeff Manion
1) There is a difference between complaining about my condition and complaining against God.
2) How do I prepare for years of disappointment?
3) There are some people who do not heal over time. Time makes some people bitter and caustic.
4) Good movement pushes out bad movement and bad movement pushes out good movement. Good movement is trust.

Terri Kelly
1) In order to be innovative you have to have people who want to work together, for collaboration.
2) Leaders have to lead through influence.
3) Leadership is defined by followership.

Daniel Pink
1) We make WRONG assumptions about people - a) humans are machines and b) humans are blobs.
2) Everything good in life began with a conversation.
3) A study has shown that the single, largest motivator at work was... progress.

Pheeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwf!
Stay tuned for one more day.

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GLSummit - aka: fire hose... part 1

When does your brain hurt? I mean, really hurt?

After snarfing down an ice-cream cone?
After hours and hours of meetings?
After a long, or short, drive with a backseat full of children?
After grocery shopping?
After paying the bills?
After watching "his" favorite movie?

Mine hurts after it has been stretched, pulled, twisted and contorted like a Cirque de Soleil performer's body, for hours on end.

Let me borrow a familiar phrase and describe my head, post Global Leadership Summit, in this way... I felt as though I had been fed through a fire hose. Can that be good? Yes. And this is a familiar feeling, it happens each and every year.

Have no fear, however as I really don't look any different. There is no water gushing out of my ears, eyes, nose or mouth.

I told you I would share some high points for me. Some were new lessons and some were terrific reminders. Here goes:

Bill Hybels
1) Leaders move people from "here" to "there"... to a preferred future. And, what keeps people on the journey is a sense of hope that they are going to get "there" some day.
2) One of the greatest joys of leadership is assembling teams of fantastic people.
3) When putting teams together one should look for character, competence, chemistry and culture
4) Pay attention to the whispers of God. He does whisper.

Jim Collins
1) Good is the enemy of Great. I love that.
2) Are you (me) interesting or interested?

Christine Cane:
1) You do what you WANT to do from passion, no one has to make you. You do what you HAVE to do from obligation.
2) Check this site out and make sure you poke around information concerning the A21 Campaign.

Tony Dungy:
1) Stubbornness is a virtue, if you are right.
2) Do not mistake hours, for productivity.
3) You can be mentored from a distance.
4) Why would you let anyone stop you from doing something you enjoy?

Stay tuned... more tomorrow.

Continue Reading....

It's so obvious...

Here is another vacation tale for you, sort of.

At one of the rest stops taken during my holiday (and there were many), I could not help but notice a certain garbage can. It has a pukie green colored can with a bright yellow sign on the front of it that read:
FOR YOUR GOOD HEALTH BARREL PICKING IS PROHIBITED.

Yes, yes, I even took a picture – scroll down a take a peek!!!

When I read it I thought, “Well, well, there is certainly nothing like stating the obvious... duh!”

Then, as so often happens, there was a still, small voice inside my mind that said, “Ah, but Lisa – that sign is for you, too. You barrel pick all the time.”

I barrel pick? What?

I
barrel
pick
?

Me?

As that phrase rolled around in my head
(get it – barrel, rolling around… heehee) different ideas came to mind.

What comes to your mind when you consider the phrase ‘barrel picking’?

I pictured a person, a real, live person digging, elbow deep in garbage. In smooshie, stinky garbage. In stuff that others have thrown away minutes, or hours, or days ago. And why? Because they have a need and they are looking to fill it. More specifically, they have a hunger. And, unfortunately any old scrap will do.

I have certain needs and certain hungers. And, unfortunately, many times I allow any old scrap to fill that need/hunger. I should say it this way – I allow any old scrap to TRY and fill me, for they never really do.

However, if I am honest with myself, scraps very rarely do. And when they do it is not a long lasting fill but a quick fix until my need/hunger returns.

Let’s see… some of the things I use to fill needs/hungers in my life: shopping, food, work, facebook, television, flattery and the list could go on. Please understand that none of these things are bad in and of themselves, but if I am using any one of them to make me feel important, relaxed, popular, relevant, informed – well, I’m only barrel picking.

How about you? Are you a barrel picker too?

Let’s stop it… for our good health. It’s so obvious.



PS: If you want to know what does fill me - just ask. I'd be happy to share.

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Singing to the world, singing, singing...

It seems like each of my summer vacations, for the past three years,
is delightfully marked by new music.
2008 was the sound trac from the movie Momma Mia.
2009 was a new Rascal Flatts CD.
2010 I am almost... I said almost... embarrassed to say has been Barry
Manilows greatest hits. Totally serious!

Some of you might not know him, but others of you know exactly what
I'm talkin about...

Oh Mandy
Even Now
Copacabana
Can't Smile Without You
I Write the Songs

So there I was... driving down the highway, going pretty close to the
speed limit, windows down and the breeze blowing all through the car
(and through my long, flowing blond hair) enjoying a most beautiful sunny day,
and anticipating a stay at an absolutely lovely seaside cottage
"Singing to the world, singing, singing. Singing to the world,
singing, singing" at the top of my lungs!

Could you hear me?

I wanted to remember the moment, it was a great moment. I wanted to
mark it in time and hide it away in my memory for those less than
exciting, long, cold, dark days of winter.

So I looked at my watch.
It was 2:30 PM.
And at that very second... at 2:30 in the afternoon on July 21st this thought went through my head... here I am enjoying a pretty near perfect moment - what will
2:30 in the afternoon, on my first day back to work feel like?(

Then, immediately, this thought followed
ughhhhh!
I don't know. Stop thinking about it. Enjoy right now. Enjoy right
now. Enjoy right now.

Maybe you are like me in that your mind is always thinking of THE
NEXT. The next "whatever". And, not so much on the now. Always THE
NEXT.

Force yourself to enjoy THE NOW in today. I did... that day.
I turned Barry up as loud as my stereo system would allow and we sang more duets
than I could count... Singing to the world, singing, singing...

This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate
and be glad today.

Psalm 118:24 CEV

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Many hands make... less weeding... Part 2

We have recently done some landscape work around our church building.

Are you familiar with landscaping, first hand?
Oooooo my aching arms, legs, and hind end. Muscles I had never used before, nor fully understood that I owned, ached.
Can you relate?

I felt old and very out of shape.

It's funny though, because when I made the statement that I had no arm strength, a faithful 'worker outer' asked me if I was interested in changing that fact. To which I replied, "No, not in the way you do!"
Hummmmmm... I wonder if lifting a spoon, laden with DQ Ice-cream, all the way up to my mouth, would a good exercise make? I'll try that out and let you know!

Anyway, as we were weeding, another person said this, "How like us and our sinful nature are those weeds... no one had to tell them how to grow, they just appeared. And boy do they take a lot of hard work to get rid of."

There we have it... sinful nature... weeds... our natural bent to gossip, judge, swear, covet, act ungrateful for our blessings, demand our way and the list goes on and on. Weeds.
And so much work to pull, to change, to get rid of, IF we want to get right to the root. Which, as we all know, ensures the best results.

Nothing good is ever easy.

Remember, weeds just appear. Remember, weeding takes work.
And know that landscaping leaves absolutely beautiful results.

Is there a landscape you wish looked different, in your life?
What weeds are you pulling this summer?

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