Here is the April Fool Joke of my Life

“April Fool" A Really Dirty Trick Our family of six was gathered in our TV/eating room contentedly munching and getting ready for a pleasant evening of family TV. It was Sunday, a little before six. Then the phone rang and Julie, our teenage daughter, jumped to answer it. “Hello, yes it is. Yes, he is here. What? (sounding shocked)he is supposed to be preaching at your church for the evening service? Just a minute I will call him to the phone.” I had heard the whole conversation, and in sheer terror got up to take the telephone from Julie. All of us were in shock as I reached for the telephone. I put it to my ear, ready to deal with a terribly embarrassing predicament, when Julie in sheer delight hollered “April Fool!!!!” Oh, what an indescribable feeling that evoked. Incredible relief, wrapped up in an enormous load of irritation. Profound amusement mixed with helpless anger. And all I could express was relief and admiration, and laugh, over the best April Fool joke of my life. Julie had arranged for her friend Kris Engelhard to make the call at exactly a few minutes before six. Six o’clock was the time most of the local churches scheduled their evening services. It took me a few days to recover from that one.

The Broken Window Approach

 In NEW York City and now here in Los Angeles, a unique philosophy is guiding efforts to make the city clean, attractive, safe and secure. It is known as "The Broken Window Approach" And it works!!

NYC has reduced crime 50% or more and restored that great city to a high level of security, attractiveness, optimism and hope. It started the way it sounds, simply fixing the often small panes of glass that had been shattered. They were not crucial openings but they gradually lowered people’s standards.

The Broken Window Approach (TBWA) is the idea that taking care small things causes a reaction that affects everybody for the better. TBWA motivates care and concern about the big things and the trickledown effect curtails crime, cleans up outlooks, and changes people. When small problems, like homeless sleeping in the doorways of shops, churches and apartments, was made against the law the improved appearance changed everything and everybody for the better.

We want to apply TBWA approach through Care and Kindness. Small acts we believe trigger other small acts and together they lead to renewed and revolutionized attitudes. When kindness, politeness, generosity, etiquette, in small ways, touches another's life then goodness, virtue, compassion is generated on a major level.

We think the simple acts of care and kindness approach can lead to greater intentions toward honesty, integrity, commitment, and every other expression of solid high level virtuous behavior.

John Templeton says: "Life is not made up…of great sacrifices or high level duties, but of little things. The smiles, the kindnesses, the commitments and obligations and responsibilities…given habitually and lovingly are the blessings that win and preserve the heart and bring comfort to one's self as well as to others." (Templeton 488)

THOUGHTS FOR THE SECOND HALF

"2nd Half" Koaching

Beware of the Infection of Self-Centeredness

As we grow older there is a tendency to drift into preoccupation with ourselves: our health, our physical problems, our sleep, money, trips, grandchildren and more. The process also may include losing interest in others—their trips, interests, accomplishments, new items.

There is little as pleasant as another person taking interest in our lives. So it is essential that as we grow older, and the self-centered drift progresses, that we resist it. It often requires a deliberate decision to move in that direction.

Not only does such a choice thrill the ones you show interest in, it is also an antidote against an older-person malady that turns others off.

Becoming a giver may require upgrading our self-concept. We must believe this truth—that we are reservoirs of blessings. You and I are full of goodness and ready to overflow with nourishment for the souls of younger folks.

It doesn’t matter who you are, or how healthy, educated, wealthy or attractive. You have within you words, interest, and expressions that can make a wonderful positive difference in the lives of younger men and women. You are potential healers.

We must check that self-centered drift, and spill some loving interest on some young ones. It can be life-giving to them but it will always be spirit-lifting to us as well.

AS WE GROW OLDER WE MUST DELIBERATELY TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT OFF OURSELVES AND TURN IT ON OTHERS.

Every Living Person Can Help the Hurting

"Help Wanted."    " Help Needed"

“…. as God’s chosen…holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”      Colossians 3:12


For forty years I have been working in the “pool of pain”: with and around God’s people who have been hurt, devastated, diagnosed, and afflicted by adverse and horrific circumstances, illnesses, losses, rejections and failures.

In most cases I have been present to them as a Pastor endeavoring to contribute something that might directly or indirectly support them. In most cases I tried to “walk with them” as they reeled and staggered, groped, fell down and got up again. It is not hard for me to admit to a profound feeling of helplessness and empty-handedness almost all the time, in nearly every instance.

One stunning discovery has come out of all this. In almost every case God has sooner or later lifted them back to their feet, propped them up, and got them going again. I attribute this remarkable fact to God’s healing presence. This Divine Care and Kindness can be anticipated and relied on by those hit by freight trains and bulldozers—God does restore even the most smashed.

Why this is so important is not only that it gives a strong encouragement to all who surround the crushed but it mandates something else: each of us in our heartfelt and heartbroken empathy and sympathy need not be overwhelmed by the thought that we have to find ways to make them better again. We must “walk with them” — but with a tremendous sigh of release (giving them to Jesus), we can trust God to put them back together. Jesus needs our help, but will take care of it in God’s time and in God’s way.

So, people are needed! They do not need to be skilled helpers or highly qualified caregivers. But they do need to “show up”. They do need to “walk along with” the injured and bereaved. And every last human being qualifies as a healer/helper in the challenge of helping JesusGod in the restoration and re-building process.

A Personal Experience, but No Hard Feelings

“Do We Need a Care and Kindness Conference?”

If there is any message I have repeated a great deal it is how necessary it is to thank and encourage those who work for us.

A few days ago I spoke for about forty-five minutes on prayer to a group of about eighty people. Most of them I know rather well. None of them had previously heard what I said about my personal experiences with prayer. They looked interested as I talked. They asked a few questions and shared a few stories of their own. Then we segued into a musical presentation followed by the evening meal.

Here is my punch-line: Not one person said a word to me about my presentation.

Someone should have said something. Even if it was mediocre or awful, listeners could at least say “thank you for your hard work”. In other words the talk, or lesson, does not have to be outstanding to earn a word of acknowledgment. But something should be said, by many.

So after a dozen years of talking, teaching, writing about offering words of appreciation, encouragement, or recognition I realize there is still a lot of unfinished business. It should never happen that someone works for us and receives nothing in return. But it happened to me.

ANYTIME someone performs, speaks, teaches, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE they deserve a few sentences of recognition and/or appreciation.  No one is so competent, experienced, famous, great, rich, beautiful, or old,. that they may be overlooked on this issue of giving them a word of acknowledgment or gratitude.