Once a Soviet, Always a Soviet

The Moscow Times

Thursday, January 26, 2006. Page 1.
Putin: Spy Flap Justifies NGO LawBy Carl Schreck Staff Writer

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday cited a purported British spy ring as justification for the controversial law that will tighten state control over nongovernmental organizations. But he said he had not decided whether four British diplomats accused of being spies should be expelled.
Two days after the Federal Security Service, or FSB, announced that it had uncovered a spy ring of four mid-ranking diplomats at the British Embassy and their Russian contact, Putin said that "it has now become clear to many why Russia passed a law regulating NGO activities."

So, Putin is stopping Christian Missionaries and local churches from their activities because the British EMBASSY is caught spying? Wow, what Soviet style paranoia.

Pray for Galina and her family and her ministry. Our friends Arthur and Betty Gasch are preparing to visit in a few weeks.

The Wall Street Journal Online

Freedom's Unsung Hero
January 26, 2006; Page A10

Hong Kong's prosperity since World War II is sometimes referred to as a "miracle." But miracles require the intervention of a deity, whereas Hong Kong's remarkable economic growth between 1945 and its handover to China in 1997 owes a great deal to the nonintervention of a mortal man, John James Cowperthwaite, who died over the weekend at the age of 90.

Cowperthwaite arrived in Hong Kong in 1945 and served as Financial Secretary of the then-British colony from 1961-1971. Perhaps more than any other single figure, he was the architect and guardian of the greatest natural experiment in free-market capitalism in the postwar world. It is all the more remarkable that he kept the colonial government small and out of the business of business at a time when socialism was ascendant in Britain.

In 1997, Milton Friedman noted that since 1945 Hong Kong's GDP per capita had gone from a fraction to substantially more than that of Israel and Britain, and had caught up with that of the U.S., even as the colony's population increased tenfold. That astonishing performance became a policy beacon first to the nearby small nations of Asia (the "tigers") and eventually to Mainland China itself.

One of the better known stories about the undeservedly obscure Cowperthwaite was his refusal to collect economic statistics about Hong Kong during his tenure as Financial Secretary, lest they produce an impulse toward central planning among the bureaucrats. "I did very little," Sir John once said. "All I did was to try to prevent some of the things that might undo it." Other would-be central planners could learn a lot from what John Cowperthwaite didn't do.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Many people want to "control" the church, but I say let the capitalist approach set the pace. There is no better way to "Manage" a church than the way Cowperwaite ran Hong Kong. He let the people run themselves.

The old European approach to church leadership is dead. They always wanted central planning, central control and central bureaucracies. In the day when it took three months to get word from London to Boston and all things were moving slowly, that may not have seemd normal.

But even back in the 1700's American Christians became impatient with all that central control and began to turn the spiritual life of Americans over to every man and women. It has revolutionized the way we do church.

The First Great Revival/Awakening led to economic freedom, the Revolutionary War, freedom for women and freedom for the establishment of new churches .

The Second Revival/Awakening led to the Abolition Movement and freedom of slaves as well as more economic freedom.

Today's Revival/Awakening is leading to the sharing of not so much economic and political freedom but of spiritual freedom.

The Motto is: Let my People Grow and Go.

Reactivity and Differing

The staff of the College Hill Presbyterian Church consisted of ten men and women who held various positions on such topics as healing, evangelism, church growth and pastoral care. Despite those very strong opinions for the most part we made a dynamic and effective team. How did we manage to do it?

1. We intentionally worked on developing the skills and attitudes that make good teams.

2. We did not leave team development to chance, but took time at each meeting for prayer, care and share.

3. We went on retreats for fun, prayer, hearing God and planning.

4. We committed ourselves to "Agree to disagree agreeably".

5. We all took the Myers-Briggs Temperament Type test and discussed our preferences openly and learned to respect each others' preferences.

6. We kept short accounts holding each other accountable for inappropriate behavior.

7. We studied, taught and practiced Mt. 18:15 about reconciliation one on one.

8. We agreed to keep our conversations upbuilding and not to gossip about one another outside the group.

9. We encouraged vigorous debate before a decision but all disagreements disappeared after a decision was made. The Senior Pastor was not exempt from hearing disagreement.

10. Communication about expectations was clear and open. People knew exactly what to expect.

These things kept reactivity to a minimum and we all learned how to run a healthy group.

Duplicity

In a Postmodern world facts do not seem to be very important, even to many Christians and some Pastors. Do you remember the scandal about Jimmy Swaggart? He was a famous TV preacher who took a very hard stand against sexual immorality, drinking and so forth. Then he was caught with a hooker in a sleazy motel. Duplicity!

As a therapist I have been trained to watch for the telltale signs of duplicity, avoidance, denial and defensiveness in people. When I heard Jimmy Swaggart vehemently preach against psychology, counseling and therapists I smelled a rat. As Will Shakespeare said, "I think he protests too much."

He was afraid of being found out.One day I was looking at a magazine advertisement for the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College and noticed a photo of text books, one of which was written by a prominent Christian psychologist. I asked a friend who worked for the college about the Freudian slip and he answered that they taught counseling and psychology at the school but Swaggart had to deny it on camera lest he lose financial supporters. Duplicity.

Many years ago the famous pastor Gordon McDonald wrote a best selling book called, Ordering your Private World. We discussed it as a staff at College Hill Pres. It was awful. He proposed a rigid, legalistic self control that had a hard edge on it. I smelled a rat.

A short-time later his mistress went public and exposed his immorality. He protested too much. He and his wife later wrote a book telling about their wonderful family life and parenting skills but failed to mention his adultery at the same time. Duplicity.

Duplicity leads to death, especially when we deceive ourselves.I can remember a bit of an old rhyme.What a web we all do weave when we do deceive.

The truth shall set you free.Has it set you free? Do you have a testimony?

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: A Peaceful Presence

Rev King lived, worked and lead in one of the most turbulent and dangerous times in American history. Despite the danger to himself and his family, Dr. King was bold and unafraid to speak out about the things he believed. He seemed to recognize that he would be a martyr yet he kept on leading and speaking.

The fact that he lead by all peaceful means is indicative that he was himself a man of peace who followed the Prince of Peace. Some called for violence but Rev King always called for love, patience and turning the other cheek.

We need more like him today.

Peace or Anxiety

Last post I mentioned that many famous people that many consider to be leaders are very anxious and Reactive to events. This includes almost all the famous radio and TV personalities and national figures who lead organizations that attack social and spiritual problems.

But we who follow the Prince of peace are supposed to have and live in peace not anxiety.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Why is it that I see so few national leaders who have that which Jesus seemed to think was basic to knowing Him? I am not a Roman Catholic but it seems to me that several of their most famous leaders have been peaceful. One immediately thinks of Mother Teresa and Pope John-Paul, both of whom just passed away. (The RC's who read this will protest that there are plenty of Priests and Bishops who panicked when they discovered sin in their camp.)

A peaceful person is one who can enter into difficult situations with little support and still take a stand for what they believe. They are not overly worried about the press, friends or public opinion but speak up according to their own core values. Sometimes we caricature peaceful people as being weak but the opposite is true.

Mother Teresa was able to challenge leaders and make decisions even when they were unpopular. Her order bought a building in New York City to care for the poorest and sickest in the city bit they were stopped by bureaucrats who insisted they had to put in a very expensive elevator to take the religious workers up and down the floors.

Mother Teresa said that was ridiculous and her people were quite used to walking. The city rules had to be obeyed, of course, and she sold the building and left them to care for the poor. She would not be bullied. She was peaceful and knew what she believed and acted on her beliefs.
Jesus was a peaceful presence. He entered many difficult situations without getting uptight. He was not Reactive to the demands of Mary, Martha before raising Lazarus from the dead.

He refused to minister to the crowds who followed and demanded that He feed and heal them.

He acted out of His own ideas, values and goals. That is a Peaceful Presence.

In modern America an assertive leader is too often seen as a dictator, but that is wrong. We need leaders who will call a spade a spade and tell us their ideas and ideals.

Wishy washy politicians are not leaders but poll readers.

Think about Winston Churchill. He led with vigor, frankness and character. He said, I cannot lead to a vision of the future if my ear is always to the ground.

I wish I could say I am always a peaceful presence when the going gets tough. I wish I was "Cool Hand Luke" when the pressure is on; that I was unconcerned about what others think of me and how my performance is stacking up. I wish I could say I do not love accolades and hate criticism. I wish I could always take stands without worrying about people not liking me. But I am getting better.

So, I am not where I want to be but thank God I am better than I used to be.

Judge Alito and Mental/Emotional Health

As I watched the TV news over the past few weeks I have been struck again and again by the irrational, emotional reactions to this mild mannered man. First, allow me to define REACTION as opposed to RESPONSES:

Reactivity is an extreme, automatic, emotional action based on personal values with little or nor factual demand for the actions.

Responses are a blend of emotional and thoughtful activities based on facts as well as values, convictions and personal decisions.

Groups from both ends of the political and social spectrum are highly REACTIVE about this nomination as well as that of Justice Roberts. I get e-mails almost daily from Right Wingers warning me that the end of democracy, family values and Christianity is near if the "Liberals" defeat Alito. I also get mail from the Left Wing that is so hysterical that what they portend is risible.

Pat Robertson has made himself a laughing stock to the world with his extremely volatile and irrationally Reactive statements about world leaders. He must have detached his brain from his heart before suggesting that the President of a nation should be killed.

The Left is equally overwrought. For crying out loud how they can choose as their leaders such howling hysterics I do not know. Back when I was comfortably settled in the Left Wing we fought with intellect as well as heart against injustice and for human rights. Now I can understand people who produce irrationally scary movies like Friday the 13th to make money but these folks actually believe that President Bush is Beelzebub and that he planned 911 just before he planned how to blow up the levees in New Orleans and leave all those poor Blacks stranded at the Super Dome.

A Responsive Liberal is mature enough to get facts and is reasonable enough to back up their ideas, values and feelings with information and balance. They can say, I disagree with President Bush and here is why without cursing him or accusing him of atrocities. Use your head.

A Responsive Conservative can disagree with Hillary Clinton without accusing her of being a witch or fighting her common sense comments such as, It Takes A Village to Rear A Child. Any pastor, educator or therapist knows that is true. Use your head.

When Presidential Candidate Howard Dean let loose with a high pitched scream of hope he was roundly vilified by the press both left and right. I think it was unfair to do so. When I studied the film carefully it was obvious that he was having fun. He was not angry or aggressive. However, because that scream came from a man known for his irritatingly and irresponsible comments he was seen as unstable. In other words, people considered the source.

Pat Robertson has done many great things for Christianity over the years but he is about to lose all credibility for all of us and completely destroy his legacy. From now on people can only see the screams not the substance.

Several Senators and religious leaders have made themselves look like irrational buffoons during the Alito hearings. They have been so Reactive while Alito was always completely Responsive. Who do you want making and interpreting the laws and leading American Christianity? Why are so many of the famous political and Christian leaders Reactive and get all the press?

Do we not deserve leaders who have the peace of Jesus?

Mother Taught Me Many Things

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?"

10 My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12 My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have
wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOUR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

Getting the Right Person in the Right Place

Several years ago when I was working at the University of Cincinnati I was among several people who were candidates for one of the new Deanships. It was an exciting challenge to be considered and I desperately wanted to be in the chosen group. However, I hated the idea of being one of the Deans.

Now why would I want a position but hate the job? I wanted many of the things that the position offered but did not desire to do the tasks that having the position meant I would be forced to do. A Dean had to do budgets, lead and attend numerous committee meetings, sit in boring administrative meetings, play political games with the President and University Board. YUCK! I hated those things.

But I certainly was interested in having my picture on the Administrative Album and I was very interested in the title and pay scale. Man oh man I liked the sound of being called, "Dean Sweeten" and having people listen as I described my meeting with the President.

After losing out I told an old friend about my disappointment. He warmly tryed to console me. We chatted awhile and he said, "I can not imagine you in that administrative job." I agreed: "It is like I was in a bowling tournament with the prize a keg of beer. I hate beer but I would want to win the tournament anyway just so I could turn it down. It was the competition and I don't want to lose."

These days I am Coaching people who are in competition to make career decisions or take a new position. Many times they want to win but dislike the prize. No job is worth taking unless it allows us to use our gifts and talents.

In the following posts I have written about the skills and training needed to be in various positions. I see numerous churches, non-profits and companies hiring people who are unqualified by gift and passion as well as skill set to actually do the job. That is a terrible thing to do.

Many groups hire pastors, presidents and managers because they have long "experience" in the field without asking if they can really do the job. That is like selecting a flight attendant to be the pilot. Both have many miles in the air but only one can actually fly the airplane.

LEVELS OF RELATING

Level 1. Giving and Receiving Basic Instructions : Can understand and written information (one-way) communication.

Level 2. Serving others : Responding to implicit or explicit requests for action.

Level 3. Amusing : Able to divert with humor.

Level 4. Persuading : Influences others in favor of a product, service, or point of view.

At various times in my workshops students have stated with some truth that most churches and businesses want leaders with these four mmost basic skills. Many elder boards want a pastor that can 1. Take instructions, 2. Serve them, 3. Amuse the congregation and 4. Persuade people to follww him and donate time and money.

I am reminded of an old comic stip called "Li'l Abner". He was a Redneck with great looks and very poor mental abilities. This left him victim to many shysters who wanted to draw Abner into schemes where they could use his good looks to make people think he was a gifted leader. However, it always backfired because Abner just could not pull it off.

This is true of many pulpit committees and organizations. They choose the beautiful and well spoken, persuasive types with few skills of management, mentoring, coaching, leadership and influential relationships.

In the following posts you will see that the above four skills are necessary but far from sufficient. However, many graduates from seminary and business schools can do little else. Unfortunately, these four skill levels do not begin to empower a person to lead an organization.

For many years I have been training people to move on up to the higher skill levels. We are excited about helping churches, NGO's and businesses find ways to increase the skills of their key leaders. Call me to discuss how we can help you and your organization.

Post your comments and let me know what you think.

Basic Levels of Influence

Although many groups want a leader who can persuade and speak well in public in a one-way manner, two-way communication is much more important in leadership. Many in the national media attack the IQ of President Bush based on the perception that he is not a persuasive speaker. But that is unfair and due to gross ignorance.

In ministry as well as governmental leadership listening well to the heart and mind of others is critically important. It is also basic to the next Levels.

Level 5. Two-way communication : Can carry on a continuing exchange of information both verbally and non-verbally. Is able to accurately separate self from others and own thoughts, feelings, and actions from others’. Can accurately assess issues and problems.

Level 6. Negotiating : Exchanges ideas, information, and insight with others to develop policies, programs, contracts, or understanding. Includes conflict management, dealing with inappropriate or contradictory input, and volatile emotions.

Level 7. Coaching, consulting, counseling, instructing are essential to a well functioning church.

A. Coaching : Befriends, encourages, or advises others.

B. Consulting : Coaches with the addition of technical input.

C. Counsel : Coaches and consults with relational, emotional input.

D. Instructing : Teach and train through lecture, emonstration, practice, accountability. Requires expertise in specific content.

Skills Levels for Leadership and Influence

One would assume that the most influential pesons in our society would have the bet training and the highest order of skills. Unfortunately, that is not always true. For over 30 years I have been an educator and trainer in both secular and Christian venues. There is a huge need for the church and Christian organizations to focus on training high quality persons.

The following three Levels of training and giftedness are essential to the effective operation of churches, businesses and governmental agencies.

Level 8. Supervising : Develops work responsibilities for others; evaluates performance; inspires motivation and harmony; moves group toward mission in congruence with the goals and values of the organization .

Level 9. Mentoring : Helps persons grow as into maturity and wholeness. (eg. home, family, work, church, community). Must balance mental, emotional, spiritual, relational, and career considerations to advise, consult, counsel, coach, instruct, supervise, etc.

Level 10. Therapy : Specialized, technical knowledge to carry out therapeutic interventions in the treatment of the ill (mentally, emotionally, spiritually).

Soul Man

Leon Kass sounds a warning about the perils of biotechnology

BY BRET STEPHENS Saturday, January 7, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON--Leon Kass is willing--reluctantly willing--to indulge a request. I have asked him to refresh our interview of several weeks ago by reflecting on the case of Hwang Woo Suk, the internationally celebrated South Korean researcher who recently admitted to fabricating cloned stem cells. Dr. Kass thinks that a decennial White House conference on aging might make for an equally timely news peg. Health and longevity; dementia and death; euthanasia and living wills; performance enhancement and life-prolonging genetic manipulations--these are the subjects that really engage the mind of this 66-year-old physician and ethicist (and former philosophy professor of mine).

As for embryos, stem cells, cloning and the uses and abuses thereof, they are "not the most profound of subjects," he told me over a pot of tea in the kitchen of his Washington apartment. "The embryo question is really about the means. The real question has to do with the ends to which we put this."

As far as Dr. Hwang is concerned, Dr. Kass is merciless, and he fires grapeshot: "Scientific fraud is always revolting, but it is fortunately rare and, in the end, truth will out. But in this case, American scientists and the American media have been complicit in the fraud, because of their zeal in the politics of stem-cell and cloning research and their hostility to the Bush funding policy. Concerted efforts have been made these past five years to hype therapeutic cloning, including irresponsible promises of cures around the corner and 'personalized repair kits' for every degenerative disease. The need to support these wild claims and the desire to embarrass cloning opponents led to the accelerated publication of Dr. Hwang's 'findings.' . . . We even made him Exhibit A for the false claim that our moral scruples are causing American science to fall behind."

Ever since his appointment in 2001 as chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics (a position he relinquished last fall), he has been gamely and evenhandedly trying to work his way through the embryo debate, which really is just a salient in the larger culture war between "choice" and "life." But in an era in which biomedical technologies have already begun to alter the broad and basic contours of human nature, questions about when life begins, or what is permissible in the name of medicine, seem almost quaint. "Killing the creature made in God's image is an old story," he says. "Redesigning him after our own fantasies: That's what's really new."

If we can do it we will do it. If we can clone humans we will clone humans.

Theodicy: Where is God When Life Falls Apart?

The tragic deaths of those miners in West Virginia brings all of us to consider our own mortality. At such times as these we all must face our eternal destiny and consider whether God exists or not. Agnostics and sceptics ask, "Where was God?" and believers ask "Where am I with God?"

Many years ago C. S. Lewis wrote a great book, God in the Dock. As an Englishman, C.S. Lewis used Dock to mean the court of justice where a crimninal goes to be charged for a crime. In past generations humans would place themselves in the dock and ask, "Am I guilty of sin and will I be judged by a holy God?" Modern humans are not very interested in looking at their own guilt but instead judge the God of whom they do not believe.

The tsunami in Asia, the hurricanes in the Gulf and the earthquakes in Pakistan were each met with questions about the presence of God when evil strikes. I think such a question indicates that people are much more interested in God during a crisis than at the height of a party.

It also indicates that modern humans are led by an unthinking belief that everyone should live forever or at least until they wish to die. We have become so wealth and so used to miracle medicines that we do not believe that accidents, natural disasters, sickness and death are normal. Unfortunately, each is an awful reality.

In the Barbara Walters' Special about Heaven she asked famous religionists what they believe about Heaven. Some controversy was stirred by Christians who stated that all who call on Jesus will be saved and go to Heaven. I found it amazing that no one seemed to realize that in the Hindu and Buddhist beliefs nobody ever gets to Heaven. Everyone is caught forever in the wheel of Reincarnation, the end of which is merging into universal energy.

When we all come to our certain end and ask the final questions it is important to know that God is deciding our future and our eternity. He does so with love, grace and mercy but we will meet Him face to face. Life nowadays is so great that Heaven seems to pale in comparison. But we are wrong to think that.

As a kid I resented the fact that the old folks loved to sing all the old songs about heaven. They would get teary eyed and mention how glad they were to think about a reunion with Pa and Ma and the loved ones who had passed before.

Today I am not so mystified by the old days and the songs of Zion. Then I was looking forward to a bright future. Now I am looking back at a wonderful life.

By and by, Lord, When the morning comes
When the saints of God are gathered home
I will tell the story how we've overcome
We will undrstand it better by and by

I used to think I had all the answers but back then I had not faced all the questions. Now I know what I do not know so I can sing with conviction: "I will understand it better by and by..."

The Penny

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels. Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. Arlene was nervous about the weekend. The boss was wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts.

Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see.

She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says."
"United States of America."
"No, not that; read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading"
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes!"
"And?"
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.

For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me! Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful! When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient...

Ask If We Can Pray

Several years ago when Karen and I were visiting Scooter and Carol Franks in New Mexico they introduced us to a novel and interesting way to minister to people. As the waitress came over to take our order Scooter said in a respectable manner, "We are going to ask God's blessing on us and the food in a minute. Are there any issues we can pray about for you?"

I thought that was a pretty neat idea so whenever I think of it and am led by the Spirit I follow their lead. The week before Christmas I was having a business lunch at Watson Brothers' Brewery in Blue Ash when I asked the waitress that question. She enthusiastically answered, "You sure can. Pray that his place does not close down and I lose my job. In fact all of us will lose our jobs. Ask God to grant our liquor license. We failed to pay the fee and the inspector came in and shut our bar down last week."

Then this young woman stood over our table and Jim and I asked God to show them favor with the tax people and grant them their liquor license again. As most of you know, I grew up in a virulently anti-drinking family of Baptists. So, I was shocked at the request for ti sounded so strange, but nevertheless I fervently asked God for a miracle and keep Watson 's open.

Warning! If you ask people how to pray be prepared for some surprises.

God Star Chili

Earlier this evening Karen and I stopped at Gold Star Chili to grab a bite after moving her mother Hazel Guriel from a nursing home to independent living. It was a good day but one that was quite tiring.

A very young woman took our order and before she left to fill it I asked the key question. "Is there anything we can pray about for you?" She was shocked but said excitedly, "Oh, thank you. Just pray for my family problems at home. Just my family problems."

Karen and I bowed our heads and asked God's richest blessings on young Kait and her family, especially the ones with the "problems". When she brought our food Kait told us with tears that "I go to church too and our youth pastor is always telling us to do these kinds of things. I just have chills all over because it is the first time I have ever seen anybody actually do it."

As I paid the bill she again thanked us profusely and was apparently more hopeful that God was at work in her family. As we drove away Karen remarked, "There is so much pain in the world. So much pain."

Thank God for His grace and our opportunity to offer it to the world one young girl waitress at a time. Thanks to Scooter and carol we learned a simple new way to bless hurting people.