Friday, July 29, 2011

Wake Up Everybody!

In the midst of the chaos and confusion going on all around the world, I was reminded today by a co-worker of a song so poignant and reminiscent of a time gone by, that still holds the resounding truths of what’s going on today.

Although John Legend and a montage by various artists remade this song, I am still in love with the version of Wake Up Everybody, recorded by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass. I invite you to listen to these words and allow it to touch your hearts, minds and spirits.

“No more backwards thinking, time for thinking ahead!” How prophetic and definitely an urgent wake up call!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Teddy Roosevelt

"Your ability needs responsibility to expose its possibilities. Do what you can with what you have where you are." – Theodore Roosevelt (26th President of the United States, 1901– 1909)

Sunday, July 24, 2011

8 Ways To Go Green At Your House (From USA Weekend)

A few people said they did not know where to start in terms of practicing any green principles at home, but wanted some suggestions. USA Weekend gave some great “green” tips to use at home that contained some great tips that we found worth mentioning again.
  1. Get a reusable water bottle and coffee cup; say no to disposables.
  2. Use only energy-saving bulbs.
  3. Recycle all paper products
  4. Redecorating? Look at furniture and accessories you already have and change them from room to room for a new look, instead of tossing and buying new things.
  5. Use the phone or video chat with Skype for meetings instead of driving your car.
  6. Buy earth-friendly cleaning products when possible.
  7. Try to buy local produce and food.
  8. Turn your car off while waiting in car-pool pickups to avoid idling.
(From USA Weekend, April 15-19, 2011)

Sunday, July 17, 2011

My Flowers Taught Me a Lesson about Life

My Golden Shrimp Plant

I am always excited when spring rolls around, because I get to play in the dirt and watch miracles happen. One of the most relaxing things I enjoy doing outdoors during those warm months is working in the yard, planting flowers and trees. I consider myself one of the caretakers in God’s earthly garden. I love watching seeds sprout and tender young plantings expand their root system and begin to grow.

As my flowers mature, there is one thing that happens to those beautiful blossoms in all of their grandeur, which makes me sad. They start to wither and die. By pulling those dying blooms off, however, it allows more blossoms to multiply and the plant begins to grow faster. The dying flowers retard the growth potential of the plant and other flower buds.

My Magenta Petunia Blossom
When I reflect on life, the things that are lifeless and dead that we tend to hold on to hinder our personal growth and development. Such dead things could include a dead or dying relationship, a dead-end job, being in an organization where there are dead members who do not want to grow and remain stagnant, a dead attitude or even a dead spirit. To grow, you have to let those dead things go! You won’t believe how you will slowly begin to die too. Sometimes you lose your creativity, you can’t focus, you find yourself anxious or depressed, you get trapped in negativity, you may become paranoid or you find yourself in shackles that you can’t shake off.

I found that when I fall to my knees and pray about those circumstances that stress me out, as long as I sit still and listen to God, I find that He has a plan to fix it beyond my understanding. The one thing God instructs me to do is to let those dead weights go. Release them. When I do, I find that I focus on things that are more positive, I have more energy and I am more productive. Those circumstances have a solution, but I would screw it up if I did it my way.

My Chinese Red Hibiscus
 So when I find that life has me caught up in its ugly whirlwind of chaos, I not only stop and smell the roses, but I take a good long look at the blossoms too. I refuse to own the chaos and confusion, because that belongs to someone else. Watching a new bloom face the rising son and burst in its awesome brilliance, makes me realize that when I face the rising “Son” my spiritual bouquet will flourish too.



Sunday, July 3, 2011

Celebrating Independence Day

When we think about the freedom that we are blessed to have in this country, we must not forget to differentiate institutional, financial or political freedom with spiritual freedom. Spiritual liberation carries far more weight than the freedom we believe money, job promotions or material possessions can bring. You can have all of the financial wealth, senior level corporate positions or celebrity perks there is, and still feel empty, lonely and spiritually broke. May we celebrate Independence Day every day, knowing that even if we are in physical bondage, we are spiritually emancipated.


Enjoy your 4th of July and celebrate responsibly!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1 NIV