Making a Change

My Dad

Today, I made a change to the blog I started a long time ago. Yesterday, I sat with my Mom as we waited for my Dad to have a medical procedure that would restore his heart to the proper heart rhythm. My mother and father have given so much to me. Throughout the years of my life they have provided a foundation of stability which provided more then I can describe in words. There loyalty and faithfulness to each other, there gracious, unselfish service to others and the guidance they gave to me and my brothers and sister has inspired me along with my wife to provide guidance and love to more than just our own biological children. When I looked forward to my life as a child, I never would have dreamed of the ups and downs of the journey my life has taken. But I am so glad I've been blessed to take the steps I have. Now, I want to share with a much wider audience some of the great insights and lessons I have learned so they might experience the fullness of joy and happiness I have come to see and know.  I wish to share laughter for no reason.

Guidance Through Storms

Cost of Sin

Andrew Barracks
Berlin, Germany

      It seems to me that there is a multiplying nature to sin.  One person chooses to be selfish and irresponsible which effects others.  A parent abuses a child and that child come to see abuse as "normal" and so they abuse their children.  The cycle continues until someone or something stops the cycle.  But stopping the cycle means that someone must be aware of what is abnormal. However, the pattern is set, the rut of behavior has been cut deep and it take concerted effort to fill in the hole and form new and better thinking.  Do thoughts lead to behavior or does behavior bring about thoughts?  This is the question?

Berlin Wall 1971-2

     When one person makes a mistake other people also end up paying the price.  We are connected to other whether we like to admit it or not.

iHouse Fire

Firemen at Word

We see this in the fire that caused two families to lose their home. One tenant decided to do something foolish and now another family had to move. It also caused the landlord all sorts of problems, dealing with insurance, and the loss of income from his property. And what about the trauma of the little boy who lived next door or the little girl who was burned as she tried to help her father escape. I do not know how many people this fire touched nor do I know if it was a simple accident or one born of an illegal act, but I do know it shows us that mankind does see many things that can really suck the joy right out of life.

Time-Work & Play

With the advent of the internet and the number of really interesting things we can learn, how does one find the time to gain the skills to use this technology to its fullest? Or is this impossible?  Just as writing a blog is interesting and a good way to share good things or bad, one must make the time to do it.  Whether others read it or not it is a good way to put your ideas somewhere so they are not forgotten.  Also I would like to express my ideas succinctly and in a way that they can be remembered.  I want people to know about Jesus and what He did, but I also would like them to understand and grasp the value of this Good News so that they will not become indifferent to it.  We can learn facts on the internet, but turning those facts in to life attitudes and behavior is a whole other thing. Well, for now this is all I have time for.
 Blessings & Peace,
 Pastor John 

Strengths

Authentic Happiness.com is a place where you can take a test which gives you a breakdown of your strengths.

Remember this http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3892035

William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer? | Video on TED.com

William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer? | Video on TED.com

I just added the printer friendly button to my blog. I think this is a real step forward in my computing education. Thanks printer button.