Do you believe in Miracles?

Video Shown in Worship this weekend --- what miracles have you experienced??

From the Pastor's Bookshelf: Book 1

For my first book of the shelf, I chose the most recent book I was given -- "Fixing My Gaze: A Scientist's Journey into Seeing in Three Dimensions" by Susan R. Barry.   My kid's Vision Therapist, Dawn,  gave it to me last week because I was reading it during our visits.  It tells the personal story of Susan who was born cross-eyed and had several surgeries as a child to correct her eyes.  She could see 20/20 but her vision was not the same as a most of us.  She saw the world only in 2D, not 3D or stereoscopic vision.  So she investigated and tells us about her journey to correct her own vision and what she learns about the history and the science of vision along the way.

Its a good book, I really enjoyed her descriptions of how she saw the world and how her vision changes with vision therapy.  The part where she describes seeing in 3D for the first time was touching.  Some of the book gets really scientific and difficult to grasp, but don't let that dissuade you from reading about her journey and some of the other people who have had vision therapy as well.

I'm glad I read this book because it gave me a whole new understanding of what amazing work God did in creating our vision.  It has also helped me to once again appreciate what an awesome kid I have -- he has overcome so much more in his life than I have in my lifetime.   His courage and adaptivity to the world is astonishing especially considering what this book taught me about his condition.

If you want to know more about vision therapy check out  minnesotavisiontherapy.com  they are great people.

I am going to start on Calvary's book club book of the month "Redfield Farm" by Judith Redline Coopey and try to get another book of the shelf next week too.  Happy Reading!

The Pastor's Bookshelf

So, here's my confession today: My bookshelf is a wasteland of unread books.    I love books, fiction or non-fiction, science, biography, novels and I really love self-help.  Every book is a good book to me.   In my love for them I tend to buy great books with excitement and anticipation over curling up and absorbing all its wisdom some quiet evening (preferably beside the fireplace with a cat on my lap).   Then reality hits and I read maybe a page or a chapter and then put them on my bookshelf too busy to finish.   If I really want to finish a book I encourage the church bookclub to read it, or do a Bible Study or sermon series about it so I HAVE to read the whole thing.

What is getting in my way of good reading?  Sadly, surfing the internet or watching British comedies on Hulu.com  ("Rev" is hilarious!).  Yep, nothing uplifting or filling in the least -- well, ok laughter is necessary too people, but. . . .   

So, this year I endeavor to break a bad habit and start a good one by challenging myself to turn off the computer in the evenings and read one book a week, start to finish.    I went through the house and my office bookshelves picking off all the lost, lonely, unloved books that have not had the attention they deserved.  They are a motley lot and they fill the top of my bureau in my bedroom where I intend to read them in my side chair, dog at feet, cat on lap or on bed.   To hold myself accountable in the good, Methodist tradition, I will blog about the book I read each week.  Hopefully someone out there will notice if I haven't been posting and casually ask me what's been so interesting on Hulu that I can't read  :)

Thats the plan!

Happy Grandparents' Day!

Tips for Grandparents 1. Enjoy not being in charge. You had your chance to parent and now it is your kids turn. Let them make the rules and decisions -- your job is to enjoy the kids and play with them not to parent them. 2. Don't give advice unless asked. Unwanted advice often sounds like criticism for the person receiving it, don't say "I would. . . ." "With you I always. . . " or other such sentences unless the parents ask for your help. 3. Respect the parents' rules. You may not agree with it, but you have to live with it. Don't break the rules or encourage grandchildren to break their parents' rules. Ask the parent to make an exception is you feel it would be worth it -- and accept their response whatever it is. 4. Respect the parents' values Your child may not agree with you on a certain issue that you find important. They have the right to teach their children their own values and beliefs. Respect their views and don't argue with them in front of the children. 5. Know the schedule and be accommodating to their lives. Your child-free life is probably more flexible than your kids' lives, so be willing to be the one to do extra driving and extra flexible with scheduling. Ask "what works for you?" Guide for Parents working with their Parents, now Grandparents 1. You are the parent - speak up and make your rules, feelings, and expectations clear. You are an adult & its time to have an adult relationship with your parents, this means clear communication about what you want. Talk to your spouse or co-parent first, then inform the grandparents what you decided. 2. Grandparents aren't babysitters unless you have had a discussion and come to an agreement about regular childcare, don't simply assume your parent is going to always be available to care for your child. Your parents have their own lives too. So plan ahead, ask and schedule together. 3. Don't make grandparents compete for the kids children need to know all of their grandparents. Do your best to encourage equal time between the grandparents whether that's face-to-face, phone, mail or skype. 4. Support your spouse Your spouse deserves your first loyalty even if the choice is between them & your parents. Make it clear that you are a team making decisions together & grandparents should respect both parents. 5. Let the grandparents spoil them. your child should know that the rest of the world is not like grandma. But its good for their self-esteem to have the extra doting from grandparents.

Prayer changes Your Brain

This was a great NPR story. Prayer really works - it connects our brains to God and helps us to be better people. You don't have to use special words or have any special abilities to pray. Just spend 5-10 minutes a day in a quiet place where you won't be interrupted. If you have an Upper Room or other devotional you can spend 5 minutes reading the devotion and picking out a thought or phrase that speaks to you. If you don't have a devo then just reflect for a moment on the the verse "Be still and know that I am God". Say it to your self several times taking slow, deep breathes. Praise God, give thanks for all the blessings in your life. Pray for others, where do you want God to be at work in the world around you. Listen. Where can you be a better person? What mistakes have you made? Ask for forgiveness and ask God to help you be better. Keep taking deep breathes. For 2 minutes just pray for peace and joy for the world. . . .for your community. . . . for those you love. . . . for someone you don't like. Its hard at first, but it does get easier and become more natural. If you want more help -- call me!!

Godly Parenting

The Influence of Godly Parenting! from David Hobbs, LDM for Camps & Christian Education for the Iowa Annual Conference Have you ever thought about the influence you have had on others over the years. I am certain if you’re like me, you can think of so many past experiences that have happened through your interaction with others, many good and many not so good. It’s kind of sad, but what seems to resonate to most of us are those times that we didn’t speak as appropriate as we should of, or maybe didn’t take the time for someone else’s needs like we should have. I think it’s easy to pick out these times that we neglected being a positive influence on someone else, but I am certain that each of us can look back and see the joy in those times that someone found some hope and healing through something you went out of your way to do, or say. As I thought about this it made me think of the observations I’ve had with the youth that I’ve been able to watch over the years through the different ministries I’ve been involved with. It has struck me about how different each youth is, and also how you can see their lives being lived out as they interact with others. Like adults, some are smiling and joy filled and some are uplifting to others, and sometimes a bit more talkative than others. At the same time, some may be more reserved and are learning more about their own selves and how they socialize with others. Neither type of behavior is necessarily good nor bad, it’s most likely just style differences. Maybe what concerns me most are those who through their interactions are critical of others and sometimes seem to never to say a nice thing http://www.iaumc.org/console/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/2013July8David_DZP42SQG.pdf

Groundswell | Cedar Rapids Gazette