Lutheran Grilled Cheese 2.0

When I was a youth director, I had a poster on my wall that said “You are already a role model, the question is what kind are you?”

Like it or not we are all role models, from the person living on the street to the top professional athlete.  By role model I mean that we all have influence on the development of children – for better or for worse.

The way we see ourselves and the world is what decides how we will behave, and how we behave determines, what will happen to us.

Role models serve as living, breathing mental images that help us visualize the way we would like to live.

For example, if a child sees a homeless person sleeping on the street, this most likely will stimulate negative images in their mind and will direct them in a way where they will not want to end up there.  The same kind of image can happen when they see their favorite super start throw the winning touchdown, or shoot the winning basket.  They will want to act like the best, to be the best.  No matter how many times an athlete may say that they are not a role model, they are.

However, the more important role models are the ones children come in contact with on a daily basis.  While it is helpful to read about a significant person in a book or a magazine, or watch an inspiring life story in the movies or on TV, it is much more powerful when we can actually interact with someone who shows us possibilities for ourselves.

When we can do so on a daily or regular basis, as we do with parents, grandparents, teachers and pastors just to name a few, this has the most powerful impact of all.

It is not only what we say that matters, kids will learn from our actions as well, so the best role models do not only need to say the right things but they need to live a good example  as well.

Of course we cannot control everything.  The best thing that we can do is to tell them and show them the right way to live and let the kids figure out the rest for themselves.  They will make mistakes, we all do.  But hopefully they will remember the positive role models in their life and follow their example.

Share on Facebook

With everything that has gone on in the world recently, a word that I can’t stop thinking about is Hope.

I think everyone could agree that a hopeful attitude is a good thing. But what exactly is hope? Can it be learned? Centuries of folk wisdom and religious teaching have taught the benefits of a hopeful attitude. Researchers believe that hope may be associated with good health and greater success, both personally and professionally.

But what exactly is hope?

Dictionary.com says that “hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.”  Hope can also be an attitude, a state of mind, or a goal.  We can hope for something, we can be hopeful, or we can create a sense of hope.

Actor Christopher Reeve had every intention of walking again, and had he lived, I would not have been surprised to see him do so. His determination was led by a strong sense of hope. He once said “Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”  I believe he chose hope.

This past weekend we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day.  In a speech called The Trumpet of Conscience, King said “If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.”

We live in a time where hope seems fleeting every day.  We read stories in the paper, watch the nightly news or read blogs online that we live in times where there seems to be little hope.  100,000 innocent people die and we do not have reasons why, that for many people, takes away any existence of hope.

However, in all other things being equal – a hopeful attitude helps overcome obstacles.  I have seen people rise out of what seems like impossible situations. It is people like that who can express how important it was for them, to never give up hope.

So what gives you hope? My hope comes from a number of places.

First, I find myself hopeful because of my faith in God.  My faith drives my belief that through hope I have the ability for active participation in the world in order to help others live and experience a better world.  I know we live in a broken world and I am determined to help others find a sense of hope in their lives.  My faith tells me that I have a God who loves me and who cares for me in all areas of my life.  Even though I am broken, God is there to help me and to make me whole again, and that gives me hope.

I am also hopeful because of my family.  I love going home to my family every night.  When I see my family I am energized and hopeful again.  It is through them that I experience unfailing, never ending love.  It is through them that I am able to envision a future that is bright, and full of possibilities.  Being a parent and husband are the two most satisfying things in my life.

Lastly, I am hopeful because of my job.  I know I am called to be a pastor because of all the amazing things I have the opportunity to do every day.  I am able to spend time reading and reflecting on the Word of God, I am able to engaged in conversation about the word of God and see its impact in people’s lives.  I am able to walk with people through the most joyous times in their lives and saddest as well. And in every situation I see hope.  I see opportunities for new life, new birth and it is there that hope is present.

So where do you see hope in your life and the lives around you?

Share on Facebook

For more insight check out:

Nothing is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life

Faith, Hope, and Ivy June

So this year has not gone as I have planned so far.  There have been many set backs and there have been many times  that I have wanted to give up and quit.  But I am still here and as I move forward I want to spend the rest of the year thinking positive and I want to get back on track with my new year resolutions.

In order to do this I started with scripture:

And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea”, it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.’ Matthew 21:19-22

These verses might not seem the most appropriate for someone who is having a rough year.  But this scripture tells me that my thoughts are not always about healing, saving, restoring, redeeming, etc.  Jesus tells me  in the verses above that faith is a force that can build up or tear down.

Positive thinking is a powerful thing, we move toward and become like what we think about.  We automatically behave in ways that match the image we have of our ourselves.  When we focus on what is going wrong, we tend to experience more of the problem. When we  focus on what is going right, many times we can come up with a solution.  Therefore, when we focus on health and wellness we move toward it, we are attracted too it.

All of our words spoken in faith, have the power to build and power to destroy. God gives us the power of words, it is up to us to determine how we use them.

So what happens if we find ourselves speaking negative and destructive words?

First, think back about all the destructive words that have been spoken to you over the years. Then release the negative and destructive words over to God and ask God to reverse each one of them into a word of praise over you.  Words can be destructive, they can hurt even more when they come from inside of you.  They are a constant source of hurt when your internal duologue is running constantly and is brining you down.  But they can build you up when they are used int the right way.

Second, start speaking to yourself and to people all around you with words of life and healing.  The more we are able to do do this the easier and more natural these words will come.  When we dream it, when we envision it the more likely it will become.  Then truly we can say that we have faith, and hope in ourselves and in the one who created us and who loves us.

Share on Facebook

For more insight check out:

Power Talk The Power of Negative Thinking

The Power of Negative Thinking: Cynicism and the History of Modern American Literature (American Literatures Initiative)

Winter is a tough time for many people, especially people here in central New York.  We are surrounded by snow, and almost every day we are getting more snow.  The days are shorter and we spend more and more time inside.  Depression rates run high during the winter months.  It is a hard time.  So how do we dramatically increase the joy in our lives?

Everyone likes to feel good. However we tend to react to situations instead of taking control over our lives.  When things go wrong for us we tend to sit around waiting for it to pass, hoping that something or someone will come to rescue us, to help us feel better.

Instead of sitting around, what if we had a plan for pleasure?  I am sure that there are things in our lives that make us happy, things that put a smile upon our face every-time we encounter it.  For example, no matter how hard of a day I have, no matter what goes wrong in my life, when I walk through the door and see my wife and children I can’t help by smile.  Or when I have things on my mind, things that I need to think about, I will take out my guitar and start to play.  This helps clear the thoughts out of my mind and it helps me focus on the task at hand.  Not only does it give me time to think, but it allows me to pray as well.

The times that I have been hurt the most, or the times I have felt lost and alone, I turn to God .  I leave my worries and my cares in God’s hands and I feel much better about my life, I have a clearer pictures of what I need and who I am.

So have you ever thought about making a list of things that help you? Do you really enjoy listening to music? Cooking a delicious meal? Watching an inspirational movie?  Also have you thought about who do you turn too when you need help?  Do you have friends you trust? Can you turn to family?  Have you ever turned to God?

If you had a list of a couple of dozen things you could count on for a good time, you’d have plenty of options the next time you wanted to create a pleasure-producing experience.  If you had a list of people to turn too when you need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to you life might be a little easier.  I have been trying to add to my list every day.

What about you? How do you create you own happiness?  How does your faith play into it?

Share on Facebook

For more insight check out:

The Winter Olympics: An Insider's Guide to the Legends, Lore and Events of the Games Vancouver Edition

Where the God of Love Hangs Out: Fiction

2010 has not been all it is cracked up to be.

We celebrated the new year in Vermont hanging out with my parents.  It was a nice quiet evening- the boy was the only one who really made it to midnight.   Congrats to him!

Then we came home to CNY and found lots and lots of snow.  It has snowed for the last 6 days, and in some parts of the area there has been more than 40 inches of the wonderful white stuff!  This has not been so bad, granted it would of been nice to have one or two days of no snow to catch up with all the shoveling but that would be just silly.  Oh, and speaking of shoveling, Monday night when I was trying to clear off the back poarch for the dog, I broke my back — I have been in immense pain since Monday night and things are not getting better.  I had to cancel out on two meetings this week because of it and I am not looking forward to Sunday, I don’t know how I am going to get through service at this point, but I am going to try.

I saw a chiropractor today and he said that the outlook is not good at this point.  It looks like he and I are going to become good friends.

The only positive to having a hurt back is that this weekend is the first weekend for the NFL playoffs.  I am excited to watch the action, especially Sunday as my boys the Patriots go at it against the Ravens.  I have high hopes for the patriots even though we have had an up and down season.

Share on Facebook

For more insight check out:

Quiet Water New Hampshire & Vermont:Canoe & Kayak Guide

Back in Black

I am not going to lie, I am a HUGE fan of the television show Lost on ABC.  I am very excited for its return on February 2nd, and I am sad that this will be the last season of Lost.  There is so much in the story, it is hard to fully comprehend.  If you have not seen Lost, or if you have forgotten the awesomeness of it — check out the video below.

Come back after February 2nd for updates on what happened and perhaps some theological reflection on past episodes.

Share on Facebook

For more insight check out:

The Lost Hours

Abc's Of Reloading: The Definitive Guide For Novice To Expert