The trouble with Tiger

I was watching the interview with Tiger Woods about his knee right after his victory. Did your knee hurt? Yes. Did you go against Dr's orders? No answer. Why? Because golf is what I do.

Why I do many of the ministry things I do is because it is what I do. More correctly it is what I am called by God to do. Funerals, weddings, hospitals, meetings, meetings and visits as well as some crazy schedules. It is what I do.

Now Tiger gets a better payday and he is extremely skilled and obsessively practiced and coached. He will get a break to get the torn tendon and the stress fractured bones fixed up. But it will not be easy because "It is what I do." It is the game, the competition, the pursuit of excellence.

After a board meeting last night I was around wondering what we as a church were going to do. I was seeking God (and I was watching the Celtics humiliate the Lakers) Okay, God, what next? And the answer was sure to come - "pray like never before" and if I had thought that was a fluke or a mishearing I was hit this morning with Col 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." And if that message was not clear enough I was finishing the book Just Walk Across the Room and got hit with Col 4:2 again in the final chapter "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." let me finish the rest
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

So, I got the message. You shall find me more in prayer. IT IS WHAT I DO!
Please pray for BUMC and the Childcare program as well as the next Uganda mission trip departing October 19th. 2 weeks, 3 or 4 graduations and of course hours and hours on the planes.

Ripping up bushes

Sometimes you have energy to use that needs to be burned off. Many times I have come upon a serious loss(death) or frustrating life situation. The parsonages I have lived in have had bushes in front that were beyond their prime. I "take it out" on the bushes. When you have to pry and cut and dig and strain to get the bushes out and the roots dug you can burn some calories and drip with sweat. But, the job gets done and you have safely sent your frustration into a safe place.

My son in law's sister was hit by a truck and killed accidentally while walking last week. Total accident. A beautiful and spirited young Christian woman is now with the Lord. She was taken too soon and you have to feel bad. But that is life. We celebrated her life and shared some comfort in North Carolina with family and friends.

I have taken out bushes in Frewsburg, Henrietta - Bob Caskey. Fillmore - Angela Cockle. Hornell - too many funerals there and cannot remember which one. Now here in Brewerton.

What do you do with your stuff? Have you found a safe way to get it out?

The good news is that I can now paint the front of the house without working around them. We also then take the time to carefully select new bushes and give new life to the landscape in front of our domiciles.

Shalom, Truly Shalom.