Me to We

Moving from Me to We.

I picked up this book simply on a whim. I was cruising the book aisle at Costco and it caught my eye. I've only just begun reading it, but would recommend it to everyone.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the founders of an international children's charity called Free The Children that works to raise awareness of global child labor issues as well as empower young people to become involved in social issues.

The book not only has Craig and Marc's amazing stories, but stories from others like them who have been working for change either locally or around the world.

But the main thrust of the book is to help people move from a self-centered life (Me) to one that is focused on reaching out and helping others (We). The premise being that as each of us reaches out to help others we find true happiness for ourselves.

I think this will preach...

PJ

Too Long Since My Last Confession

I have this image of going into a confessional and asking forgiveness because it has been so long since my last blog. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been over three months since my last confession-er-I-mean blog."

I apologize for not blogging in the last three months, and I know of at least one person who has vainly looked day after day to see if I've submitted a new post, only to be disappointed time and again.

So it is out of guilt and love that I dedicate this blog to you!

During Lent I shared a sermon series called "A Way of Discipleship." The series focused on six disciplines that I believe will help Christians more closely follow Jesus' commands to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul - and to love your neighbor as yourself. If you want to know more about the disciplines click here. Hopefully, the sermon series will be on the church web site soon.

The Sunday I spoke about faith sharing I began by sharing in David Letterman style the Top Ten Reasons people don't share their faith. Several folks have asked for the list so I thought I'd publish it here. (No, DL's writers didn't help me with this)

10. All the good street corners are already taken
9. Sharing about the weather and sports are more important
8. Everyone I know is already a Christian
7. If everyone knew I was a Christian, I’d have to behave like one
6. My soapbox is in the shop
5. It’s impolite to discuss religion with my friends
4. People are put-off by knowing that God loves them
3. That’s what we pay the preacher to do
2. I’m afraid I’ll mess it up
1. I just don’t think about doing it

I really have very little excuse for not posting sooner. My story is that I was thrown by Easter being so early and since that won't happen again for another 200 years, I think I'll do a little better...

PJ

Resisting Resolutions

Each time the New Year rolls around people start talking about making New Year's Resolutions. Indeed the start of a New Year is a great time to think about what one can do new or differently in the coming year to improve one's life.

Many of the folks I talk with, however, no longer make New Year's Resolutions. I suspect it's because they've made resolutions in the past and found that after about two weeks the resolutions end up being forgotten or broken.

I confess that I will usually think about making resolutions for the New Year, and I may even come up with some great stuff, but I typically resist committing to a resolution because I don't want to feel guilty about not being faithful to the change. And I never share my "proposed resolutions" with anyone for fear I might actually have to hold myself accountable to a change.

I've found, however, that the flip side of my resisting resolutions is that instead of feeling guilty, I worry that I won't commit to anything. I fear that I'll have wasted another year making no real improvement with my life.

It seems to me that the reality of life is that if we aren't intentional about what we do, we'll usually end up taking the path of least resistance; we'll settle for the mediocre; we'll live less fully than what we are capable of living.

So if you've made a New Year's Resolution I hope that you will find the tenacity to stick with it. If your like me and you haven't (or you've made closet resolutions) think about ways to live with intentionality. Start small - one simple act - and then maybe work your way up to a full blown resolution.

PJ

And A Child Shall Lead Them

I am just so jazzed about what a nine year old girl from my church is doing!

After learning about the devesation in Washington State from the recent flooding, Alyssa decided to do something about it. She got together with her friends from school and created a group she is calling "Angel Helpers."

She and her friends are going around their neighborhood collecting food, clothing, toys and money to help with the flood relief. She called to ask me if she could list Federal Way United Methodist Church as a drop off place for donations and I said "Of Course!"

The money collected is being run through the church and going to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The cool thing about this is that 100% of the money collected for flood relief goes to help the vicitims.

Here's the video she made talking about Angel Helpers.

Happy New Year!

No, I'm not crazy. (well maybe a little crazy)

In the Christian Church the new year starts with the first Sunday of Advent which is four Sundays before Christmas. Since last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent - Happy New Year!

While the rest of the world rushes headlong into preparing for the arrival of Santa Claus, Advent is a time for Christians to anticipate and prepare for the Coming of Christ. We understand that Christ came 2000 years ago, yet each year we anticipate his coming anew into our lives. We also await the time when he comes again and God's reign is fully established on earth.

In the busyness of the holidays I hope that you discover a new arrival of the Holy.

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Happy New Year!