Sunday, March 23

Easter Today

This morning I read the Easter Story in all four Gospels. And then while singing He is risen I couldn't help but feel so much love for Him because He died for me. And when Pastor Ron said that even if I was the only one here on earth, He still would have come so that He could die for my sins. How powerful and personal that was for me. I want that and wish for that every day of my life. That personal feeling. Because it is so powerful. Thank you Christ for loving me even when I fail to show my love for you...
Sal

Wednesday, March 12

Name Thoughts

I would want the name to be something positive, simple and to the point. This is just me and my thoughts. I'm only one person. But when I think of the one who came up with the name and she says it came from God, it settled it for me! :0) When I first heard the name I liked it. And I still like it. I didn't even have to think about it. So far this one gets my vote!

VICTORY CHAPEL

Tuesday, March 11

what ifs

Now add some what ifs. What if resources weren't a limit? And this might be too early, but are we satisfied with what we have? (I did not have a relationship story and no one else shared one either. Maybe I didn't notice the relationship stories and need my eyes opened more.)

Personal Note

-too often I think this way, and maybe others do too. And that is that I know where I started in the past, what I got involved in and where I went down to, and what I got saved from. And sometimes I look back and say wow, I've really changed (usually the emphasis on I), I'm so much better than I was, this is good enough for me, I don't need to go on much
at all. (Probably would be prettier if I thought it out more)

Thoughts For Food Day

Open the whole side up for waiting area. LIKE THIS IDEA -

It is a good idea for now. Once it gets warmer, we can have people wait in the sanctuary while we set up outside. R

The last truck driver mentioned something about churches setting up outside. I thought that was just some of those big older churches where people have to walk downstairs to basements and it is hard to move around and, maybe, to keep "those people" out. Is that something we would have to do? Wouldn't that reduce the possible contact time we have with them and keep them out of the building? I guess I'd have to see what and why. T

Register in the "Youth" room. T

I WAS THINKING THE SAME! -S

That was my original thought. R

Try to prevent waiting in the hallway; pull get 2 or 4 groups at a time T

One thing I was considering (comments welcome) was this: Once we establish our "regulars" say those who come three consecutive times, then we can give them appointment times on the mail out. Making sure we set their portion aside.


Mail receive by Thursday (or Wes?) SOME DIDN'T GET 'TIL Saturday-I AM PLANNING TO MAIL OUT Monday MORNING PRIOR TO FOOD DAY. THAT SHOULD WORK. -S

Flyers to local neighbors on Wes or Thurs. (get more of our immediate community) I THINK DELIVERING Saturday JUST BEFORE THE TRUCK ARRIVES IS FINE. OTHERWISE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ORGANIZE ANOTHER GROUP FOR ANOTHER DAY TO DO THIS. AND...I THINK WE WILL BE SEEING 100 FAMILIES NEXT TIME ANYHOW SO WE MIGHT NOT EVEN NEED TO DO THIS. S

I think too we want to make sure that we are reaching the neediest families we can. Working through LOVE, Goodwill and the schools should help. Are their other food banks we could check with? R

My thinking on this is about establishing an (immediate) community presence. Yes, the how-tos might be more difficult. Maybe it would be a tie-in to a prayer walk, putting our prayers time into action? Also on my mind is the phone call I got from a family (in response to the Saturday
flier) after 2:30. The kids remembered them as wanting to come bad, but they didn't have transportation at the time. T

Can we legally feed some type of meal while they wait? NO. :-) I THINK THIS WOULD BE TOO MUCH. BLESS YOUR HEART FOR THINKING ABOUT IT. I THINK THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER PROJECT. OR SOMETHING WE MIGHT ADD LATER ON WHEN WE ARE BIGGER. IF WE GET BIGGER. for workers? BRING OWN LUNCH OR ORDER PIZZA? BUT THE FOOD WAS HELPFUL. S

Actually we could if we wanted to but I agree with Sal on this one for now-am trying to increase our volunteer base so that we can do more but that will take time.This would probably be a tough one. Rules about water temperature and dishwashers, etc. R

Rotation for workers? HMMM. NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE OR WHAT YOU
MEAN S

Once we get more volunteers perhaps. R

If church members, qualify for food, may they register and receive food and still help?

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK AND TO RECEIVE FOOD. I HOPE SO. I'D HATE TO SEE THEM NOT HELP OUT. WE HAD OTHERS WHO HELPED TOO THAT RECEIVED FOOD. S

At the meeting I attended two weeks ago, we were told by Gleaners that it is okay for our volunteers to receive food, The only conditions are they either have to wait until all others have been served or they can set a portion aside but they must give it up if there are more people. However, I think they were really referring to volunteers who may not really have a need but just wanted to take some home. R

I'm still mixed up on how the registration people tell someone that they don't qualify for food. What is the basis? If our people qualify they need to register, get in line, and put food into their cars, not leave it sitting in saved piles. I want them served also. T

YES, I AGREE ABOUT NEEDING TO PLACE IN THE CAR INSTEAD OF LEAVING
IT SIT OUT - S

This is a start or continue. Build relationships, share the joy. Remember why we are doing this! We had extra people this time. But I should have gone to the back and talked more (though mostly women are coming so maybe some ladies need to do this). I wish someone had told me Joe Cook was there so I could have said hi to him. I just saw him on the way out. T

TIM, VICKI TALKED TO HIM AND HE WAS VERY PLEASED TO KNOW THAT WE WERE PRAYING FOR HIM. NEXT TIME WE WILL TELL YOU. :0) I LOVED BEING WHERE I WAS. I HOPE I CAN STILL DO THAT! BUT YES, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE REGISTERING? S


I'm not sure if Judy brought lunch meat for just her family or for anybody-T YES IT HELPED ME! CAROLINE MADE ME A SANDWICH. I THINK WE CAN EACH BRING A LUNCH. OR ORDER PIZZA AS I MENTIONED ABOVE S

Either way works for me. R

This might sound weird, but I'm a detail guy. Sandwiches good, pizza bad. Sandwiches are easy to make and can be done whenever there is time. Pizza comes and it causes a disruption as we try to get it while it is warm. But the main reason is the perception to the people we are trying to serve. (Because as they keep telling me at work, grrr, perception is reality) When Caroline's sister gets her food, she has talked about in a resentful way the smell of the food the workers are sharing. Maybe they are taking our food, etc.

WELL OK THE CYNICAL SIDE OF ME SAYS,, YOU ARE GETTING FREE FOOD SO WHY ARE YOU COMPLAINING? BUT I SUPPOSE IT WOULD BE BEST TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BAD FEELINGS. S

Saturday, March 8

or this as a name

Restoration Allendale
... a bridge to hope community

Isaiah 57: 7-10
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
T&C

Prayer for Today

Steve Sjogren (of Serve and multiple other sites) encourages servant evangelism - another way to say externally focused. He writes this prayer:

"Here I am God. Love through me - the real me. Ignite me - the real me. Invite many through me - the real me. Thank you for your invitation to me that I am - as I am!
Let the filters fall.
Let all in me be ignited by the flame of God.
I agree with you God - You can move through me and that provides life.
[Help me] Notice what is going on through me … I cease hesitating, I engage with you - let the world change."

T

from http://stevesjogren.com/

Friday, March 7

Yet another church name idea to throw in the bucket

I thought of a couple before the garden idea had come out. Whether we decide to grow the garden or not, I love the connotation of these names.

The Vine

Harvest Community


The tag line for either could be...."Where seeds are planted"

If we do decide to do the garden thing, it would bring a uniqueness to our church that would be known throughout the community. The Bible has so many passages on planting and its parallels to Christian living. Here just a few that resignate with me:

Isaiah 60:21
Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.

Ezekiel 17:8
It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.'

Matthew 13:32
Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."

1 Corinthians 3:7
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Your Sister in Christ,
Vicky

Thursday, March 6

Ron and Tim's conversation

Good Morning AllI just thought that it was time for some new thoughts.(Except for one old thought. Ron, you asked Caroline to pray aboutbecoming coordinator for the gleaners. She is still considering - and will havetime for the praying required soon.-busy week for her. But maybe she istoo obvious a choice, she (and I in a bumbling way :) see things and tryto make them work better. But how do we let God work through this? Was this request because of a message from God or the result of an observation?

Maybe God wants to stretch and grow a less obvious (to us) person –like Dean or Gary or Pam or Jimmy or Troy or etc ...?) T

I think God is already doing some stretching and growing in all of the people here. As far as asking Caroline to be the co-ordinator for the Second Gleaners Ministry here is how it happened. That first Saturday, I was prayerfully observing people serving other people. Mainly thanking God for the opportunity He was giving us to be salt and light to those who came and to each other, but I was also asking for eyes to see whom He had in mind to raise up. I saw Caroline taking on somewhat of a lead role and so I made a mental note of that. She was not the only one I made mental notes on by the way so watch out! J After a while, Jim Dornbush came up to me and said “It looks like you’ve got yourself a good leader there and he nodded toward Caroline. I agreed with him and we continued talking about how things were going. Shortly after that, I was talking with the driver, Tim, and he made mention of the fact that we had a great group of people doing the work. Then he too singled out Caroline as someone he had noticed who had taken charge and was getting things done in an orderly fashion.

Now, was that God talking to me or was it just human observation? I know what I believe it to be but you will have to decide for yourself.

Let me also say that the dreams I have been given of what this community could be and accomplish are much bigger than I can even begin to articulate and before it is all said and done, each of us is going to stretched and grown beyond what we can imagine today.
R

See y'all Saturday!? (Funny, spell-checker wants to suggest YALE as a replacement for y'all) T

That’s because it is a Yankee spell checker! R

Growth through study, growth through service seems to be the message of the reading this week. A balance. I didn't see anything about programs in the reading. I don't have it with me today but one quote that sticks with me is the one about " ... not family until you take the garbage out .. T

"James says it best: “Faith without works is dead” or to quote Rich Mullins “Faith without works is like a song you can’t sing, it’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.” R

The emergent movement has a lot that I like - especially the emphasis on relationship and community - maybe because that is something that I am not skilled at and desire. So here is an interesting read from a site I look at: T

I didn’t realize until I just read this e-mail how tired I am getting of “labels” for churches. Organic, emergent, traditional, contemporary, charismatic etc. etc. etc. In many ways I think that they do more harm than good. It seems to me that we should be working to unite the body rather than divide it, which I think these terms sometimes do. R

Ten Keys to Sane Church PlantingBy Bob Hyatt
I recently saw a list of 10 Keys to Effective Church Planting. I want to whole-heartedly agree with some and humbly take issue with others (and one in particular)... I don't pretend to know it all- but here are my thoughts as I read through the list. Let's call my reworked thoughtsTen Keys to Sane Church Planting...The list is:
1. Get on your knees and fight like a man.
2. Team-work makes the dream work.
3. Location, location, location
4. Determine your target audience.
5. It takes big money to plant a church.
6. If you build it they still might not come.
7. Clarify the “win”.
8. Set yourself up for success.
9. Focus on life-giving ministry1
10. You get what you expect.So... in order.

1. Get on your knees and fight like a man. Aside from the inherent sexism in the way the statement is made, this is a great, great place to start. "Unless the Lord build a house..." :) T

I would wholeheartedly agree. R

2. Team-work makes the dream work.Yes. It's important not to do this thing alone. T

I would add you can’t do it alone. R

3. Location, location, location Yeah, okay. I hear you. I think our outside-the-box meeting space has done huge things for us (we meet in a pub). But... I want to differentiate between planting a service and actually planting a community. Planting a service is easy. You just need a bunch ofdough, a few people willing to work themselves to death and voila'... and yes, that's all about the location. Planting a community, however, is a bit more ephemeral... a bit harder to quantify into easy-to-follow steps. It's a partnership between the Spirit and desperate people trying hard to listen to that Spirit. It usually results in a Sunday morning (or other time) gathering, and often people are told about it/invited to it... but that's not the heart of a truecommunity is it? T

The heart of a true community would be, in my opinion, the shared value or belief system that draws people together. In our case that would be Jesus Christ. As such then, He should be the determining factor in how we relate not only to each other but just as importantly, to the larger community around us. R

4. Determine your target audience.I guess on this one I would just say- Look in the mirror. Expect that the people who will be part of your community will largely look like you. Expect that, but pray for different.And quit targeting people. I think it freaks them out. T

True. Target the needs, not the people. R

5. It takes big money to plant a church.Okay... If you'll excuse my language, that's a load of xxx. And a dangerous lie to tell to church planters. I wish to God (literally) that people would stop saying this. Is it easier to plant with "big money"? In some ways...And I'm really glad for churches that are able to start with a lot of support. Seriously. The fact that someone is willing to put up thatkind of money on a venture that statistically has an 80% or more chance of failure is amazing in the best sense of the word. A lot of people are putting their wallets where their mouths are to plant churches. But. It's not necessary. You don't have to have "big money" to plant a church... In fact, you might be better off without it. We had $700 a month committed when we planted our community. That's it.But we have kept overhead low, we have made do for the past two years with $600 worth of sound system, my associate pastor worked a full time job until this very month... somehow, we managed to launch a vibrant, growing community without big money.In fact, I've seen churches struggle because of that big money. They "launch" with a full contingent of paid ministry professionals, the whole Kid's Ministry In A Box™ that they bought at some convention somewhere, and the people show up to see the show.And two years later, when their initial bankroll from momma church or daddy church-planting organization runs out, they fold because they have ministry jacked up to artificially high levels, that is, they have more programs and staff and equipment needs than their people can conceivably give for and support... and when that gap between actual giving and budget needs hits, they need to start laying off staff. And that's aspiral that the heavy-initial-investment, programmatic church model can't handle. When the staff starts going, that equates to a cut in services, and the people soon start edging out the back door for some place down the road with something new and exciting (and better funded!) going on... Grim? Yeah... Does it happen to everyone who starts with a big wad of cash? Of course not. Could it? Oh yeah... So why not start simple? Let it grow organically... Different approach, different challenges (for sure)... But do you need "big money" to plant?No, no, no. A thousand times no! And you just might be better offwith a different approach. Sorry... got worked up there. I apologize if I stepped on your toes.This one is a serious button for me... T

I can go either way on this. There are too many variables involved. R

6. If you build it they still might not come.Amen, brother. So... focus less on building and more on being. Be the kind of community (whether you are 10 people or 100) that others will find loving and welcoming, where they can find God and themselves be found. People will show up for that. You can figure out the bells and whistles later. I say, quit being a builder. Try being a gardener... T

I would say focus less on building and more on becoming, not just being. Being could almost be equated with stagnating. R

7. Clarify the “win”.Yeeeeahhh... got no idea what this means. I know about setting quantifiable goals and all that. But we're talking people's souls, not numbers. We're talking about community, not benchmarks. Do your people love God? Win!Do they love each other? Win!Do they love others outside of your little thing? Win!Are you together figuring out how that all works together in community? What that looks like for you as a unique group of Christ followers? Are you feeding people who need food, clothing people who need clothes and generally being Jesus to those God brings in contact with you/your community? Win, win, win!Don't have your five-year plan together? No mission statement? No idea what comes next? Join the club. And don't sweat it.Do the things Jesus is telling your community to do, love people and trust God to build His church and...You'll know the win when you see it. T

Yeah baby! R

8. Set yourself up for success.
Can't argue with that! How do we define success?9. Focus on life-giving ministry And on the Giver of Life T

Or that! R

10. You get what you expect.And hopefully... a whole lot more.Amen? T

Amen and halleluia!Shalom, R
Pastor Ron

Wednesday, March 5

Tuesday, March 4

Acts 4:24, 29-30

"They raised their voices together in prayer to God" (v 24)

"Sovereign Lord,...you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them...now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus"

When under attack, when facing a new challenge, in all seasons, in all times, call on the name of the Lord, and he will help you-Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Great Read!)

We are ready! Name the time and the place and Dean and I will be there. My schedule is too crazy, so don't work around me, but if I can't be there-Dean will try to be. We need to do this. :0)
Sal/Dean

Easter Poetry

Silver moonlight cuts through the cloud and penetrates the cold dark rock below;
Where all is lifeless and nothing moves.
There is silence for miles around
As if the universe were holding its breath.

Slowly and steadily, with ever increasing power it begins
The battle to create life from death.
The corpse begins to breathe
And the decaying is reversed.

His eyes fly open and power flows into His lungs as breath returns
He rises upon sturdy legs
And looks at the holes in His hands and feet.
Slowly He turns His gaze upward.

“Abba” he cries. “It has begun. The enemy is defeated and death is overcome.”
His shout echoes within the small chamber
And startles the guards outside. They run and hide.
Slowly, reverently, He kneels.

“My Father” he prays “Only by your will have I overcome and secured the victory.”
He has forgotten the anguish. He has forgotten the pain. He has forgotten the crown of thorns.
He rises up, peace settles upon Him like a fine morning dew
And He smiles.

He smiles because He remembers all those He loves, knowing they are free.
He turns to face the entrance and angels roll the stone away.
He joyfully steps towards the exit.
And walks ouside.

Sunlight pierces the clouds and shines on the young girl below.
Sadly making her way to the Masters tomb. But wait!: She cannot believe what she sees The stone is moved! The tomb is empty! He has risen just as He said He would!
Her heart leaps for joy and a universe trembles with anticipation, knowing things will never be the same.

Monday, March 3

Testing the Water

From Tim

OK, I found my way this far!!
Just getting my feet wet - I don't have my Beach Boys shirt on yet.

Two things that I like to do when I can get my turn on the lap top at night. I like to play music from My Space artists, and read through some old favorite web sites and try new links.

On My Space - Parachute Band (I love their first song - Mercy)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=58927532

On Blogs David Trotters' (Revolution Long Beach) (so that is another name taken) has an interesting "discipleship" book "I Will"
http://www.iwillmovement.com/

Greetings

Greetings and Salutations as pastor said this morning. Marc it was nice to have you back leading us in music. Ron challenged us to "catch the wave". Although I've never surfed it did generate a word picture of riding the "God Wave". I really was moved by the Isaiah 58: 6-12 passage and will pray over that this week. We also spoke the words of Luke 4:18 to each other which was moving. Caroline

Saturday, March 1

A Memo From God

Memo: From "God"
To: Everyone!
Re: Read this memo for a 100 Days before bed time and it will change your life beyond your wildest imagination…


Take Counsel. I hear your cry. It passes through the darkness, filters through the clouds, mingles with starlight, and finds it way to my heart on the path of a sunbeam. I have anguished over the cry of a hare choked in the noose of a snare, a sparrow tumbled from the nest of its mother, a child thrashing helplessly in a pond, and a son shedding his blood on the cross. Know that I hear you, also be at peace. Be calm. I bring you relief for your sorrow for I know its cause…and its cure. You weep for all your childhood dreams that have vanished with the youars. You weep for all your self-esteem that has been corrupted by failure. You weep for all your potential that has been bartered for security. You weep for all your individuality that has been trampled by mobs. You weep for all your talent that has been wasted through misuse. You look upon yourself with disgrace and you turn in terror form the image you see in the pool. Who is this mockery of humanity staring back at you with bloodless eyous of shame? Where is the grace of your manner, the beauty of your figure, the quickness of your movement, the clarity of your mind, the brilliance of your tongue? Who stole your goods? Do you know the thief's identity, as it is to me? Once you placed your head in a pillow of grass in your father's field and looked up at a cathedral of clouds and knew that all of the gold of Babylon would be yours in time. Once you read from many books and wrote on many tablets, convinced beyond any doubt that the Wisdom of Solomon would be equaled and surpassed by you. And the seasons would flow into youars until lo, you would resign supreme in your own Garden of Eden. Dost thou remember who implanted those plans, dreams, and seeds of hope within you? You cannot. You have no memory of that moment when first you emerged from your mother's womb and I placed my hand on your soft brow. And the secret I whispered in your small ear when I bestowed my blessings upon you? Remember our secret? You cannot. The passing youars have destroyoud your recollection, for they have filled your mind with fear and doubt and anxiety and remorse and hate and there is no room for joyful memories where these beasts habitate. Weep no more. I am with you….and this moment is the dividing line in your life. All that has gone before is like unto no more than that time you slept within your mother's womb. What is past is dead. Let the dead bury the dead. This day you return from the living dead. This day, like unto Elijah with the widow's son, I stretch myself upon you three times and you live again. This day, like unto Elijah with Shunammite's son. This day, like unto Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, I command you to come forth and you will walk from your cave of doom to begin a new life. This is your birthday. This is your new date of birth. Your first life, like unto a play of the theatre, was only a rehearsal. This time the curtain is up. This time the world watches and waits to applaud. This time you will not fail. Light your candles. Share your cake. Pour the wine. You have been reborn. Like a butterfly from its chrysalis you will fly….fly as high as you wish, and neither the wasps nor the dragon flies not the mantids of mankind shall obstruct your mission or your search for the true riches of life. Feel my hand upon thy head. Attend to my wisdom. Let me share with you, again, the secret you heard at your birth and forgot. You are my greatest miracle. You are the greatest miracle in the world. Those were the first words you ever heard. Then you cried. They all cried. You did not believe me then…and nothing has happened in the intervening youars to correct your disbelief. For how could you be a miracle when you consider yourself a failure at the most menial of tasks? How can you be a miracle when you have little confidence in dealing with the most trivial of responsibilities? How can you be a miracle when you are shackled by debt and lie awake in torment over whence will come tomorrow's bread? Enough. The milk that spilled is sour. Yout, how many prophets, how many wise men, how many poets, how many artist, how many composers, how many scientist, how many philosophers and messengers have I sent with word of your divinity, your potential for godliness, and the secrets of achievement? How did you treat them? Still I love you and I am with you now, through these words, to fulfill the prophet who announced that the Lord shall set his hand again, the second time, to recover the remnant of his people. I have set my hand again. This is the second time. You are my remnant. It is of no avail to ask, haven't you known, haven't you heard, hasn't it been told to you from the beginning; haven't you understood from the foundations of the earth? You have not known; you have not heard; you have not understood. You have been told of your divinity in disguise, a god playing a fool. You have been told that you are a special piece of work, noble in reason, infinite in faculties, express and admirable in form and moving. Like an angel in action, like a god in apprehension. You have been told that you are the salt of the earth. You were given the secret even of moving mountains, of performing the impossible. You believe no one. You burned your map to happiness, you abandoned your claim to peace of mind, you snuffed out the candles that had been placed along your destined path of glory, and than you stumbled, lost and frightened, in the darkness of futility and self-pity, until you fell into a hell of your own creation. Than you cried and beat your breast and cursed the luck that had befallen you. You refused to accept the consequences of your petty thoughts and lazy deeds and you searched for a scapegoat on which to blame your failure. How quickly you found one. You blamed me! You cried that your handicaps, your mediocrity, your lack of opportunity, your failures….were the will of God! You were wrong! Let us take inventory. Let us first, call a roll of your handicaps. For how can I ask you build a new life least you have the tools? Are you blind? Does the sun rise and fall without your witness? No. You can see…and the hundred million receptors I have placed in your eyous enable you to enjoy the magic of a leaf, a snowflake, a pond, an eagle, a child, a cloud, a star, a rose, a rainbow….and the look of love. Count one blessing. Are you deaf? Can a baby laugh or cry, without your attention? No. You can hear…and the twenty-four thousand fibers I have built in each of your ears vibrate to the wind in the trees, the tides on the rocks, the majesty of an opera, a robin's plea, children at play…and the words I love you. Count another blessing. Are you mute? Do your lips move and bring forth only spittle? No. You can speak…as can no other of my creatures, and your words can calm the angry, uplift the despondent, goad the quitter, cheer the unhappy, warm the lonely, praise the worthy, encourage the defeated, teach the ignorant and say I love you. Count another blessing. Are you paralyzed? Does your helpless form despoil the land? No. You can move. You are not a tree condemned to a small plot while the wind and world abuse you. You can stretch and run and dance and work, for within you I have designed five hundred muscles, two hundred bones and seven miles of nerve fiber all synchronized by me to do your bidding. Count another blessing. Are you loved and unloving? Does loneliness engulf you night and day? No. No more. For now you know love's secret, that to receive love it must be given with no thought of its return. To love for fulfillment, satisfaction, or pride is no love. Love is a gift on which no return is demanded. Now you know that to love is unselfishly is its own reward. And even should love not be returned it is not lost, for love not reciprocated will flow back to you and soften and purify your heart. Count another blessing. Count twice. Is your heart-stricken? Does it leak and strain to maintain your life? No. Your heart is strong. Touch your chest and feel its rhythm, pulsating, hour after hour, day and night, thirty six million beats each youar, youar after youar, asleep or awake, pumping your blood through more than sixty thousand miles of veins, arteries, and tubing…pumping more than six hundred thousand gallons each youar. Man has never created such a machine. Count another blessing. Are you diseased of skin? Do people turn in horror when you approach? No. Your skin is clear and a marvel of creation, needing only that you tend it with soap and oil and brush and care. In time all steel will tarnish and rust, but not your skin. Eventually the strongest of metals will wear, with use, but not that layour that I have constructed around you. Constantly it renews itself, old cells replaced by new, just as the old you is now replaced by the new you. Count another blessing. Are your lungs befouled? Does the breath of life struggle to enter your body? No. Your portholes to life support you even in the vilest of environments of your making, and they labor always to filter life-giving oxygen through six hundred million pockets of flooded flesh while they rid your body of gaseous wastes. Count another blessing. Is your blood poisoned? Is it diluted with water and pus? No. Within your five quarts of blood are twenty two trillion blood cells and within each cell are millions of molecules and within each molecule is an atom oscillating at more than ten million times each second. Each second, two million of your blood cells die to be replaced by two million more in a resurrection that has continued since your first birth. As it has always been inside, so now it is on your outside. Count another blessing. Are you feeble of mind? Can you no longer think for yourself? No. Your brain is the most complex structure in the universe. I know. Within its three pounds are thirteen billion nerve cells, more than two times as many calls as there are people on your earth. To help you file every perception, every sound, every taste, every smell, every action you have experienced since the day of your birth, I have implanted, within your cells, more than one thousand billion protein molecules. Every incidence in your life is there waiting only your recall. And, to assist your brain in the control of your body I have despaired throughout your form, four million pain-sensitive structures, and five hundred thousand touch detectors. And more than two hundred thousand temperature detectors. No nation's gold is better than you. You are my finest creation. Within you is enough atomic energy to destroy any world's great cities…And rebuild it. Are you poor? Is there no gold or silver in your purse? No. You are rich! Together we have just counted your wealth. Study the list. Count them again. Tally your assets! Why have you betrayoud yourself? Why have you cried that all the blessings of humanity were removed from you? Why did you deceive yourself that you were powerless to change your life? Are you without talent, sense, abilities, pleasures, instincts, sensations, and pride? Are you without hope? Why do you cringe in the shadows, a giant defeated, awaiting only sympathetic transport into the welcome void and dampness of hell? You have so much. Your blessings overflow your cup…and you have been unmindful of them, as a child spoiled in luxury, since I have bestowed them upon you with generosity and regularity. Answer me. Answer yourself. What rich man, old and sick, feeble and helpless, would not exchange all the gold in his vault for the blessings you have treated so lightly? Therefore I say onto you, count your blessings and know that you already are my greatest creation. This is the first law you must obey in order to perform the greatest miracle in the world, the return of your humanity from the living dead. And be grateful for your lessons learned in poverty. For he is not poor who has little; only he that desires much….and true security lies not in the things one has but in the things one can do without. Where are the handicaps that produced your failures? They existed only in your mind. Count your blessings. And the second law is like unto the first. Proclaim your rarity. You had condemned yourself to a potter's field, and there you lay, unable to forgive your failure, destroying yourself with self-hate, self-incrimination, and revulsion at your crimes against yourself and others. Are you not perplexed? Do you not wonder why I am able to forgive your failures, your transgressions, your pitiful demeanor….when you cannot forgive yourself? I address you now, for three reasons. You need me. You are not part of a herd heading for destruction in a gray mass of mediocrity. And…you are a great rarity. Consider a painting by Rembrandt or a bronze by Degas or a violin by Stradivarius or a play by Shakespeare. They have great value for two reasons: their creators were masters and they are few in numbers. Yout you are worth more than each of these. On that reasoning, you are the most valuable treasure on the face of the earth, for you know who created you and there is only one of you. Never, in all the seventy billion humans who have walked this planet since the beginning of time has there been anyone exactly like you. Never, until the end of time, will there be another such as you. You have shown no knowledge or appreciation of your uniqueness. Yout, you are the rarest thing in the world. From your father, in his moment of supreme love, flowed countless seeds of love, more than four hundred million in number. All of them, as they swam within your mother, gave up the ghost and died. All except one! You. You alone preserved within the loving warmth of your mother's body, searching for your other half, a single cell from your mother so small that more than two million would be necessary to fill an acorn shell. Yout, despite impossible odds, in that vast ocean of darkness and disaster, you preserved, found that infinitesimal cell, joined with it, and began a new life. Your life. You arrived, brining with you, as does every child, the message that I was not yout discouraged of man. Two cells now united in a miracle. Two cells, each containing twenty-three chromosomes and within each chromosome hundreds of genes, which would govern every characteristic about you, from the color of your eyous to the charm of your manner to the size of your brain With all the combinations at my command, beginning with that single sperm from your father, I could have created three hundred thousand billion humans, each different from the other. But who did I bring forth? You! One of a kind. Rarest of the rare. A priceless treasure possessed of qualities in mind and speech and movement and appearance and actions as no other has ever lived, lives, or shall live. Why have you valued yourself in pennies when you are worth a king's ransom? Why did you listen to those who demeaned you…and far worse, why did you believe them? Take counsel. No longer, hide your rarity in the dark. Bring it forth. Show the world. Strive not to walk as your brother walks. Nor talk as your leader talks, nor labor, as do the mediocre. Never do as another. Never imitate. For how do you know that you may not imitate evil; and he who imitates evil always goes beyond the example set, while he who imitates what is good always falls short. Imitate no one. Be yourself. Show your rarity to the world and they will shower you with gold. This then is the second law: Proclaim your rarity. And now you have received two laws Count your blessings! Proclaim your rarity! You have no handicaps. You are not mediocre. You nod. You force a smile. You admit your self-deception. What of your next complaint? Opportunity never seeks you. Take counsel and it shall come to pass, for now I give you the law of success in every venture. Many centuries ago, this law was given to your forefathers from a mountaintop. Some heeded the law and lo, their life was filled with fruit and happiness, accomplishments, gold, and peace of mind. Most listened not, for they sought magic means, devious routes, or waited, and then they wept, as you wept, blaming their lack of fortune on my will. The law is simple. Young or old, pauper or king, white or black, male or female….all can use the secret to their advantage; for of all the rules and speeches and scriptures of success and how to attain it, only one method has never failed…. Whom so ever shall compel you to go with him one mile…go with him two. This is the third law…the secret that will produce riches and acclaim beyond your dreams. Go another mile! The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. Therefore, I say the surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work for which you are paid. Think not you are being cheated if you deliver more than the silver you receive. For there is a pendulum to all life and the sweat, you deliver, if not reward today. Will swing back tomorrow, tenfold. The mediocre never goes another mile, for why should he cheat himself, he thinks. But you are not mediocre. To go another mile is a privilege you must appropriate by your own initiative, You cannot, and you must not avoid it. Neglect it; do only as little as the others, and the responsibility for your failure is yours alone. You can no more render service without receiving just compensation than you can withhold the rendering of it without suffering the loss of reward. Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, theses cannot be separated. The effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit is always in the seed. Go another mile. Concern yourself not, should you serve an ungrateful master. Serve him more. And instead of him, let it be me who is in debt, for then you will know that every minute, every stroke of extra service will be repaid. And worry not, should your reward not come soon. For the longer payment is withheld, the better for you…and compound interest on compound interest is this law's greatest benefit. You cannot command success; you can only deserve it….and now you have the great secret necessary in order to merit its rare reward. Go another mile! Where is this field from whence you cried there was no opportunity? Look! Look around you. See, whence only yesterday you wallowed on the refuse of self-pity, you now walk tall on a carpet of gold. Nothing has changed…except you, but you are everything. You are my greatest miracle. You are the greatest miracle in the world. And now the laws of happiness and success are three. Count your blessings! Proclaim your rarity! Go another mile! Be patient with your progress. To count your blessings with gratitude, to proclaim your rarity with pride, to go an extra mile and then another, these acts are not accomplished in the blink of an eye. Yet, that which you acquire with most difficulty you retain the longest; as those who have earned a fortune are more careful of it than those by whom it was inherited. And fear not as you enter your new life. Every noble acquisition is attainted with risks. He who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other. Now you know you are a miracle. And there is no fear in a miracle. Be proud. You are not the momentary whim of a careless creator experimenting in the laboratory of life. You are not a slave of forces that you cannot comprehend. You are a free manifestation of no force but mine, of no love but mine. You were made with a purpose. Feel my hand. Hear my words. You need me….and I need you.
We have a world to rebuild…and if it requires a miracle what is that to us? We are both miracles and now we have each other. Never have I lost faith in you since that day when I first spun you from a giant wave and tossed you helplessly on the sand. As you measure time, that was more than five hundred million years ago. There were many models, many shapes, many sizes, before I reached perfection in you more than thirty thousand years ago. I have made no further effort to improve on you in all these years. For how could one improve on a miracle? You were a marvel to behold and I was pleased. I gave you this world and dominion over it. Then, to enable you to reach your full potential I placed my hand upon you, once more, and endowed you with powers unknown to any other creature in the universe, even unto this day. I gave you the power to think. I gave you the power to love. I gave the power to will. I gave the power to laugh. I gave you the power to imagine. I gave you the power to create. I gave the power to plan. I gave the power to speak. I gave you the power to pray. My pride in you knew no bounds. You were my ultimate creation, my greatest miracle. A complete living being. One who can adjust to any climate, any hardship, any challenge. One who can manage his own destiny without any interference from Me. One who can translate a sensation or perception, not by instinct, but by thought and deliberation into whatever action is best for himself and all humanity. Thus we come to the fourth law of success and happiness…for I gave you one more power, a power so great that not even my angels have it. I gave you complete control over your destiny. I told you to determine, for yourself, your own nature in accordance with your own free will. Neither heavenly nor earthly in nature, you were free to fashion yourself in whatever form you preferred. You had the power to choose to degenerate into the lowest forms of life, but you also had the power, of your soul's judgment, to be reborn into the higher forms, which are divine. I have never withdrawn your great power, the power to choose. What have you done with this tremendous force? Look at yourself. Think of the choices you have made in your life and recall, now, those bitter moments when you would fall to your knees if only you had the opportunity to choose again. What is past is past…and now you know the fourth great law of happiness and success… Use wisely, your power to choose. Choose to love…rather than to hate. Choose to laugh…rather than cry. Choose to create…rather than to destroy. Choose to preserve…rather than to quit. Choose to praise…rather than to gossip. Choose to heal…rather than wound. Choose to give…rather than to steal. Choose to act…rather than procrastinate. Choose to grow…rather than rot. Choose to pray…rather than curse. Choose to live…rather than die. Now you know that your misfortunes were not my will, for all power was vested in you and the accumulation of deeds and thoughts which placed you on the refuse of humanity were your doing, not mine. My gifts of power were too large for your small nature. Now you have grown tall and wise and the fruits of the land will be yours. You are more than a human being; you are a human becoming. You are capable of great wonders. Your potential is unlimited. Who else, among my creatures, has mastered fire? Who else, among my creatures, has conquered gravity, has pierced the heavens, has conquered disease, pestilence, and drought? Never demean yourself again! Never settle for crumbs of life! Never hide your talents, from this day hence! Remember the child who says, "When I am a big boy." But what is that? For the big boy says, "When I grow up." And than grown up, he says, "When I am wed." But to be wed, what is that, after all? The thought then changes to when I retire." And then, retirement comes, and he looks back over the landscape traversed; a cold wind sweeps over it and somehow he has missed it all and it is gone. Enjoy this day, today…and tomorrow, tomorrow. You have performed the greatest miracle in the world. You have returned from the living dead. You will feel self-pity no more and each new day will be a challenge and joy. You have been born again…but just as before, you can choose failure and despair or success and happiness. The choice is yours. The choice is exclusively yours. I can only watch, as before…in pride…or sorrow. Remember, then, the four laws of happiness and success. Count your blessings. Proclaim your rarity. Go another mile. Use wisely your power of choice. And one more, to fulfill the other four. Do all things with love…love for yourself, love for all others, and stand straight. Wipe away your tears. Reach out, grasp my hand, and stand straight. Let me cut the grave cloths that have bound you. This day you have been notified. YOU ARE THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD!

Pastor Ron (by way of Og Mandino)