#GenerositySpeaks

So last Sunday I was still not feeling myself after what I can only describe as male morning sickness. After watching the church service by live stream, I found our pastor's challenge of extending ourselves in generosity intriguing. There were even green rubber bracelets to encourage us. I wanted to text the missus to grab me a bracelet, but didn't want her texting mid-sermon either. I decide I would grab one next Sunday. When my wife got home, she smiled and told me she had something for me.

Today, two days later, I decide to make a trip to the library before work. I wondered about the green bracelet on my left wrist and what would become of it. After gathering a few books I headed to the checkout line.

In front of me was another brother, about a decade-plus older than me, checking out a couple of novels. I figured he must either be retired or on vacation. I thought, wouldn't it be nice to be retired so I could have enough time to finish any novel. When I snapped out of my fantasy, I heard the librarian tell the man that he had four dollars in fines due on his account. It seemed to take him by surprise.

After a bit of back-and-forth with the librarian, and eventual resignation about the fine, I mustered up courage and told the librarian that I would pay the man's fine. She recoiled, startled. The man kindly protested but I persisted in insisting, and explained to him that it was to help me understand something my pastor was trying to tell me. He smiled, and relented. He told me he was a pastor himself, and that the world would be a better place if more people acted like this.

Words Becoming Flesh

Raw sermon notes:

Sermon 02mar14: Words Becoming Flesh

Use your words to declare what you want in the name of Jesus, to set you free.

Don't settle for less than what God has promised you.

You will have what you believe.

If you want something different in life it starts with you.

You can't stop the birds from flying over your head but you can stop birds for building a nest on your head

2nd  Cor. 10:5
Rom 12:2
Jos. 1:8
Prb. 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21 KJV)

Do you want more of your reality? Or the life-changing power of God to change your reality.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Change your thoughts, change your words.

What's Your Olympic Sport?

Shani Davis - republicanredefined.com

We are all Olympians in some fashion; we just may not have realized it yet. Imagine, you live your normal life, as a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker. You train nights and weekends, for as long as it takes. You and a select few put in money, time, and energy. There are no cameras or paparazzi. If you're younger, the burden to prove yourself and validate those who have invested you is daunting. If you're older, you wonder if you still have what it takes to shine at your passion. Heck, you don't even get paid, and if you do, it's nothing to quit your day job over. But once ever four years, if the Greek gods favor you, either by yourself or with 283 of your fellow citizens, you hoist your nations flag in preparation for a moment of your life, where you share your light with the world.

Danger, Do Not Walk On Ceiling

flickr.com

Affixed to the ceiling of the North Station rail terminal in Boston, Massachusetts. A public service announcement to Spider-Man?

The Problem With Social Media...For Some Folks

1. It's easy sending something to everyone on the Internet.

2. It's hard (to resist) to send nothing.

3. It's very hard to send something to just a couple of people

The Young Man On The Train

I guess there was a reason I caught the train I did tonight. When I got on, I noticed a young man, not more than 18 or 19, sitting across from me with his head down to his knees groaning. I thought at first maybe he just had a bit of too much something. By the next stop, it was clear. He was crying. No...He was sobbing.

The young woman to his left, my right, pretended he didn't exist. She was very uncomfortable. We all were, initially. The young man sat up. His inexperienced face was red and filled with despair. His fingers swiping his mobile phone, checking something, and not seeing it, returned to sobbing. One man moved away. The sister to his right, my left, took out one of her earphones (yes, he was sobbing that loudly). She asked him if he was okay. He said he was okay, and tried to man-up a bit. All the while, I'm really studying him now. I'm trying to figure out why he's crying. The young man asked her what stop we were at. She told him. She asked him if he new where he was going. He said he didn't.

He was dressed pretty well for was appeared to be a later-year, high school student. Based on his hair style and attire, and his comfort and easy in them, I would guess he was not from the city. He asked politely, and responded in kind. Nothing on him, including his school backpack was obviously, commercially branded. I decided I couldn't get off the train without connecting with him somehow. My stop was next, and my initial reticence was gone. When he lifted his head again, I let our eyes meet. I tried to convey that it was okay, whatever he was going through. Sometimes, a man for one reason or another needs to let it all out. Sometimes it won't be convenient. Better a cry on the train now, than taking out one's aggression on others later. He dropped his head again.

What could be that bad, I thought? Did he commit a crime? Did he get in a fight (I saw a dime-sized gash in the based of his palm)? It's a girl, I said to myself. It's gotta be a girl. It didn't matter. I started to say a prayer for him.

As the train slowed to my stop, with everyone now realizing this young man had something going on and watching, I got up. I stepped to the young man sitting across from me. His head down again between his knees; hand clasped behind his head.

"Hey," I said, then patted him softly on the shoulder. He rose slowly, and then looked up into my eyes. I told him, "Whatever it is, it's gonna be okay. You just hang in there. I'll be praying for you okay?" He said, okay, and then, thank you.

Start Small and Finish Something You Care About

Then help someone do the same.