If we learn something valuable, but it doesn’t lead to changes in behavior or tactics, have we really learned it? We can learn interesting facts and trivia. But if the only benefit is that it helps us win trivia games, is it true learning?
True learning goes from the head to the heart. It helps us reconsider previous beliefs. It opens our eyes to new possibilities. True learning takes the humility to reconsider if our previous beliefs still serve us well.
Otherwise, if learning something confirms our previous biases, is it really helpful? It can be threatening to learn something new that changes our outlook and actions. But it can be transforming and effective as well.
A heart of gratitude is the password to so many good things. It takes us from entitlement to contentment. It changes “why me?” to “why not me?” It turns the focus from what we do not have to what we do have.
On this Sunday morning, I am reminded this is the best way to approach prayer and worship. The Message version of Psalm 100 helped me see this in a new light this day.
Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
“Thank you” is the password to so many good things. My coworkers probably think I say it too often. My emails and speech are filled with please and thank you. But I am fine with being known as the guy who is too polite. It’s much better than being known as the guy with the rude ‘tude!
Therefore, when we go to prayer with a thankful heart, it makes us reconsider how much I have already been blessed. Just the fact we woke up to a new day is reason enough for gratitude. It helps us reconsider the many things we take for granted.
Nobody likes to see someone coming every time with a list of grievances, least of all God. It’s true that we can be honest and take our requests, our problem, and yes, our tragedies to him. But if that is the only time we pray, that would get pretty old.
Thanksgiving is coming. Let’s remember to give thanks today and every day. It’s a password to greater things. It’s a reminder we already have so many great things right under our noses.
Last night, I got to see a very good man and woman honored. They are a couple of great integrity. Rolland Daniels is a man whom I have seen in various situations. Firstly, I have seen him has my pastor. Secondly he was my wife’s boss, and as someone who remained the same through good and challenging times. Thirdly, I’ve even seen him as a client when my company published his book.
In addition, I’ve seen his wife, Ellen in action as a pastor’s wife, classmate, and friend.
Through it all, I’ve seen their integrity shine through. Last night, we held an event as Rolland retires from ministry as a pastor. But like many have said about him, he by no means is retiring from ministry.
He writes it as a tribute to the values his father passed down to him. They are values I’ve seen him display as well. As a result, it was good to see a man and his wife honored for decades of faithful ministry. It has also been so good to see a faithful man being honored for these values.
Powerful, Kind Words
The first conversation I remember having with Rolland was at the Anderson University Kardatzke Wellness Center. It was before my wife or I worked with him. I considered him an acquaintance. We were both in the weight room when he spotted me.
He walked towards me. With a warm smile he said, “Hey, Kev! How’s G?”
“G” is short for my son’s name. I told him how he was doing well in football, and about to finish up high school I mentioned he was considering Anderson University for college.
He replied, “Man, Kev. You must be proud! That boy is going places. God has his hand on him. I hope you know that!”
I thanked him and we went on with our workouts. That touched me. Did he know my family that well? And he was speaking life and affirmation about my son! He didn’t have to do that. But it made my day. And you can bet I let my son know!
Boss Man
Later, he became my church’s executive pastor. My wife was the children’s pastor and she reported to him. We learned he was just as effective and genuine as a boss compared to behind a pulpit. We were so impressed because those are two very different sets of skills.
He was very supportive of us when my daughter was diagnosed with arthritis. He would ask my wife about her and encouraged my wife to take her on trips to the children’s hospital. Last night, he was honored for being a good family man. I also know him as someone who honored and nurtured my family.
He was gracious and encouraging when we felt called to another church and another state. Later, my wife loved working with him so much, she agreed to work with him one more time before he retired. We haven’t regretted it.
Beside Every Great Man
Rolland’s wife, Ellen was also honored tonight. She and I were in MBA classes at about the same time Rolland was our executive pastor. I found her to be just as genuine, caring and encouraging. There are so few couples who walk the walk. They are a couple that exudes integrity, teamwork and hospitality.
As the husband of a pastor, I’ve had few role models. Ellen showed me that you can work on your own career goals while supporting your spouse in ministry.
The Real Deal
Therefore, last night was bittersweet. We will miss them as they pursue a new stage in their lives. No doubt, they will show their integrity, warmth, and love for God wherever they go. My wife and I will genuinely miss them! They are the real deal!
Thanksgiving is coming in the United States. So there is nothing better for me than to dole out another Thanksgiving cartoon! It’s like an extra helping of oyster dressing and cranberry salad.
The church I grew up in felt obligated to sing We Gather Together each Thanksgiving season. The challenge was that the worship leader would sing it the Sunday before the holiday. To a child, that seemed an eternity away. We might as well sing a Christmas Carol while we were at it! Of course, that came the next Sunday. My poor immature mind couldn’t take this hymnal time warp every season.
The hymn wasn’t exactly kid-friendly either. The first verse was a lot to take in. There isn’t even a chorus! It didn’t exactly roll off the tongue for me.
“We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known. The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing. Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.”
So this year, I decided to modernize it a bit. Here is my version:
Published in the November 2021 CHOGNews.
I realize “scones” is a little high class. But “donuts” didn’t have the same ring to it. Besides, I know a dear lady at one of our previous churches that makes the best scones. Whenever I bit into one, I felt quite grateful.
So have a happy Thanksgiving! enjoy a warm gathering and some scones. It may cause you to break out in singing.
Each day, we have an opportunity to bring order from chaotic circumstances. If you leave things as is, chaos soon becomes the norm.
A city street eventually becomes filled with potholes and debris.
Buildings breaks down over time and needs repair
Unopened email soon explodes into thousands of unread bits and bytes
A pile of unraked leaves kills the grass underneath
An unscooped litterbox causes the cat to do the unthinkable behind the bed
The pile of dirty dishes becomes a calcified mass of gunk
Some of us can deal with a little more chaos than others. But most of us can agree that all chaos, all the time is stressful and unproductive. There is something in all of us that wants to understand, categorize and order things.
We value systems that bring order. Language is a system that allows us to communicate. The written form of that language has a slightly different system. We like to turn on the TV and reliably get a channel that we like. It would be very disconcerting if everyone you knew began speaking differently or writing in some unknown code. If your favorite channel was on one number one day, and another the next, it would get frustrating.
We like systems. We like to categorize people and things. And we like to believe that everything that is good and bad can be understood. And if an answer doesn’t come easily, we like to manufacture a reason. We assume we know the motives of someone we don’t even know. We continually tell ourselves stories about people and actions out of our control.
As a result, I can assume the best about someone or the worst. I can make assumptions based on the stories I tell myself that may be correct or way off. It’s my little attempt to bring order out of chaos. But are those stories helpful if they assume the worst?
Our stories can assume the best or the worst in people and events. Sometimes, we need to realize our stories are just that—stories. We can assume the best or the worst. Both carried to the extreme can lead you astray. The challenge is to assume the best in others while keeping oneself from denying when something needs to change.
How does one bring order out of chaos in an accurate, realistic way even when we don’t have all the facts? Are the stories we tell ourselves accurate? That is the question I am pondering today.
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