Tag Archives: family

The Skittish Are Coming! The Skittish Are Coming!

The Flames Of Revival
The Flames Of Revival

They Are On Their Way

The Skittish Are Coming! The Skittish Are Coming!

As Paul Revere rode on the Midnight Ride to warn people of the coming British, despite popular folklore, he did not say the “The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!” but in fact actually said, “The regulars are coming!” (Or perhaps the skittish.”) Continue reading The Skittish Are Coming! The Skittish Are Coming!

The Spirit Of Freedom Real Conversations

handsheadEach one of the came to the table. They had each been plotting against the company. They had been exposed. Brought out into the light. Their deeds had gone unnoticed for a very long time. One of them was the son of one of the executives. Life sure looked different from their end of the table. The local TV station was covering the end of their underhanded deeds. The company immediately saw their stock rise and their morale change.

The guilty men had for a long time worked behind the scenes performing acts of destruction and bringing pain to the company. Their reasons were many, but for the most part they “could” and that fueled them. As time had gone on what had begun as a game to see if they could get away with small pranks became a “no holds barred” war against the company. Continue reading The Spirit Of Freedom Real Conversations

Awesome Time With Family

20130622_182131There are great times with family and then there are GREAT TIMES. Yesterday was one of those. My daughter’s reception for all the family and friends who did not make the trip to St. Lucia. It was great to be with them all.

I love my family. Needless to say getting them all to the same place to celebrate my daughter’s wedding for those who could not make the wedding in St. Lucia.

 

The Good News Is You Can Change It

Hitting the target
A word for today.

Today I will be headed out to go bowling with my grandson Jacob. He has never bowled and it has been a couple of years for me. I used to bowl a lot. As a child I belonged to two Saturday leagues, paying for my bowling by cleaning the bowling balls Friday afternoons while my mom bowled in a teacher’s league. One of the most competitive times in my life I think. Everyone wanted to bowl that elusive 300. So today will be fun.

Today as I was thinking about being a child and what was important I did my due diligence with news and what I was praying and how I would pray. I thought what is the significance (If any, how do we focus, do we care, etc..) and how we might respond. Continue reading The Good News Is You Can Change It

Shhhh… Listen! Do You Hear The Sound Of Five Chefs?

cooks“Too many cooks will spoil the broth”…remember that!

Dream
A few weeks ago I had an interesting dream.(December 7th 2013) In that dream I went into a restaurant. The restaurant looked very similar to one I had owned in the early 1980’s. As I walked through the double doors I felt something change. Like there was a lift in the atmosphere.

I looked over the stainless steel shelving and instead on one or two chefs, I had five. The night was expected to be normal, perhaps 200 dinners, why the five chefs? Continue reading Shhhh… Listen! Do You Hear The Sound Of Five Chefs?

The Christmas Past

JAcobsantaclausWell, the Christmas season is in full swing. And even if the use of the word Christmas is politically incorrect, I am still enjoying a lot of it. It is less than  a week until Christmas. As I have said in the past I would be lying if I was to tell you I am not excited. The idea of having all my children and grandchildren and maybe a friend or two over is so cool to me. This year we have “let up” on the presents except for the grandchildren to help out some other folks and that is just fine with me. I also broke the “Ann Lander’s rule on Christmas letters” to my clients and readers. So, far ALL the letters were thanking me for being a voice, not listening to Ann Landers and thinking about them. Besides no one would ever take me to be PC (politically correct) anyway.
As I write this I am listening to Christmas carols. The fire is going in “my mind” and the Christmas lights are going. The only thing missing tonight is the voices of the grandchildren. And maybe a hot chocolate with my wife.

Last night I visited some awesome lights!

I am thankful for those who have written me and said “I was going to skip the… tree, Christmas, etc., but you have inspired me.” YAY! Continue reading The Christmas Past

An Update From The Home Front

2013-12-07 07.11.30A lot of folks have asked how we are doing with all the changes, so I am giving you a general update.

So what is life looking like overall?

New Place To Live

Our new apartment is great! A shade smaller, but much more homey. The family loves it. So much quieter. So much healthier. It looks like Christmas. Nice yard area. Yep!

Ministry

Ministry is shifting for both of us. Tina is leading a women’s group they have called Embrace Your Call. She continues to deal with the more “difficult” ministry of game night. I am working more with the prophetic side of life at the Village.

Family

Our grandchildren are doing well. Many really good things are going on. My three oldest grandchildren are here nearly every weekend and so I get to hang out a lot with them. I see Naomi at least once a week. Hannah a couple of times a month. The newest baby is a few months away. Keep watching!

I am excited that I see most of my children a couple of times a month.

My Wife’s Job Loss

A few weeks ago my wife was laid off from her job. After many years of being a loyal employee the loyalty was “repaid” by keeping the new employee. (Just this past week a friend of mine lost his job of 27 years.)

Someone asked me what it is like to have her home. Well, in some respects it is like we are on vacation without the vacation.

People often make plans but when we project answers we get in trouble. Here we thought, “we move, I get a job, life is good!”

So, we are continuing to find our walk together while we are in the same house.

A lot of her day is devoted to finding work. That means she needs our computer. Which means we have to work out a schedule that is feasible to both of us.

We are both seeking work.

So that is the long and short of it. Life is exciting. We are readying for the holidays and Christmas is in view. Looking forward to friends, family and food!

We appreciate you!

 

Black Friday and The World Of Retail

Just a thought?
Just a thought?

As I read of the new craziness surrounding Black Friday and the war between retail and family, I thought, “been there, done that.” I saw the deaths, the stabbings, the videos and the loss of sensibility.

As I drove my son to work this morning, I shared with my son some of my retail experiences as he headed off to another crazy day of working in a local box store. He sells technology and gadgetry. I get it. (I have owned more stores than I care to think of and endured too many holiday sales.) Continue reading Black Friday and The World Of Retail

When Your Children Move Away From God

Praying For Our Children

All too often I watch a parent see their children walk away from the church, leaving thoughts of Christ behind. The parent feels the failure. I have “been there.”

Let me first say I am not a “pastoral” gift” despite years of being the “pastor” of the church I started. I am a prophet, and the perspective I take here may be more prophetic than pastoral or teacher.

But more importantly I am husband, a parent and a grandparent. My view is in part based on scripture and my understanding of it combined with my experience. Between my wife and I we have 5 children. We have 6 grandchildren. We have been married for over 20 years. We have made a lot of mistakes. Continue reading When Your Children Move Away From God

Family Is Best!

In the arms of my father(I have the great sweater!)
In the arms of my father(I have the great sweater!)

On my Facebook I have an ongoing message with my wife and children, called “Family Is Best!” (It is here we share with one another daily things, prayer requests, great things and little things.) There is no doubt in my mind in the truth of that statement. I have weathered enough storms and circumstances in 58 years to know.

I am the child of divorced parents and divorced twice myself, but I still have no thought in my mind that anything is better than family. Family is God given, God designed. Continue reading Family Is Best!