It is election day.  The political advertisements on television will end tonight.  In a few hours, half of those whose names are on the ballot will be elated and the other half will be sad.  The various state and local issues will be decided.  And, in a week or so, the multitude of political advertisements in our mailboxes will be replaced by holiday shopping catalogues.

John and I voted early; it was an easy and pleasant process.  And, his alarm had to go off 4:15 this morning.  He has a very busy day working at a polling location on the other side of town.

As I was running errands this morning, I got to thinking about my political involvement.  It started when I was in high school when I volunteered to work with the Republican party. My first assignment was to help on election night, recording precinct turnout and results.  It was exciting and I was hooked.

In a few years, I was appointed precinct chair for my area and I worked hard to get out the vote (well, at least the vote of those in my party).  On election day, I showed up at the polling place early and was back there several times during the day.  The rules allowed me to see who had voted and who had not.  I would make notes and start my phone calls and offers of rides to voters, well, at least to Republican voters.

Those working at the polls were delightful folk.  There was always an odd number of poll workers, representing the two political parties.  If there were 5 workers, three represented the party of the current governor and the other two were from the other party.  But, the work that they did at the polling location was neutral.

My efforts were partisan – no doubt about it. But, I appreciated and respected all our poll workers.  One year, we had a new worker – one from the “other” party.  As I arrived at the precinct, fresh pastries in hand, someone explained who I was and why I was there.  The new worker looked at my plate of pastries, they smelled wonderful.  She said “hello” and then explained that she represented the other party.  It was clear that she thought that the delicious treats were not for her.  I laughed and shared that my snacks were non-partisan; they were for everyone.  She looked surprised, but took a warm muffin and started working.  I was back at the polling location several times during the day, each time bringing a new food treat.  Fruit at lunch.  Chocolate cookies and coffee toward the end of the day.

When I went to work for the federal government, my political activities ceased.  But, elections still fascinate me.  This year, I am praying about today’s election and tomorrow’s reactions.

An acquaintance from a foreign country shared with me their assessment about America.  They commented “Americans can get along with anyone.”  And, they gave me examples.  We are allies with Japan and Germany even though we were enemies in World War II.  We have established a trade alliance with Russia despite our history.  Their comment was that we did not have “permanent enemies” like those of North and South Korea or Israel and her neighbors.  “Americans can get along with anyone.”

My foreign friend might not have it exactly right; but, it is an interesting assessment.

As we vote today and as we read the results tomorrow, I pray that we will share a plate of muffins and enjoy a chocolate cookie with those who voted differently than we did.  I pray that after this election that Americans can get along with Americans… And, that must start with me.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

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 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

Have you ever “binged” on a book series or a television show or a group of movies?  Netflix has let me binge on several television series.  And, by using their mail service, John and I can watch movies that we couldn’t get otherwise.  Our latest “binge” has been to watch movies that included Ronald Reagan.  He was in 50+ movies and they are cover a wide range of subjects.

Last night, we watched “The Hasty Heart,” filmed in 1949, starring Ronald Reagan, Patricia Neal. and Richard Todd.  I had never heard of this movie before, but it was wonderful.

The story takes place in a military hospital in the Pacific just after the end of World War II.  A nun is a nurse in charge of a ward of recovering servicemen.  A new patient arrives on the ward – a tough, angry Scottish soldier.  The men on the ward learn that the Scotsman is going to die soon and decide to befriend him.  The camaraderie of veterans warms the Scotsman’s heart as he experiences friendship for the first time.

Eventually, he learns that he is close to death and that everyone else on the ward already had this information.  He questions the sincerity of their friendship and lashes out.  When challenged to consider what it means to have people care for you, his temper abates. When he reflects on this new experience of friendship he says, “It’s like I shared a moment with kings.”

Think about that – “It’s like I shared a moment with kings.”  The men of the ward weren’t special people; they were not wealthy nor famous.  All they did was to befriend a man in trouble.

It reminded me of people who have befriended me.  It is like I dined with royalty.

I was in the wedding of one friend.  Her mom had invited so many people to stay with them that there was no room for the bride to sleep in her own home.  She and I ended up on a mattress, in a Sunday School room at the church.  At 4:30 the morning of her wedding, we were awakened by the sound of a big truck arriving in the parking lot to empty the dumpsters.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  The last time we saw each other was in a fast food restaurant, grabbing a quick lunch before she had to go back to work.  But, when I think about times together and her love and caring for me, I feel like I have been with royalty.

Friendship is valuable.  Don’t dismiss how important you are to others.  Never forget that people need you in their lives.  Need some friends?  Just look around you – we live in a hurting world.

And, then remember “It’s like I shared a moment with kings.”

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  (John 15: 12-15)

I am in the middle of planning a big event – our church’s live nativity.  (PSA for the day:  BE THERE!!  December 2, 3, and 4, 6-8pm, First Church of the Nazarene, 3475 Pine Forest Road, Cantonment, FL.  You will have so much fun!!)

Anyway, this is the first time that I have overseen this project.  It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. 

• What if a donkey eats the scenery? 
• What if one of the angels falls off her perch? 
• What if Mary and Joseph are late getting off work and baby Jesus appears to be a latch key kid? 
• What if we have a costume crisis among the shepherds?
• What if the hayride crew goes rogue and decides to make a quick trip to Publix?
• What if all the cookies are eaten the first night?

And, most importantly, what if the vision in my head turns out to be a bad idea??

Have you been there?  I know that I am not the most creative person in the room and that a glue gun in my hands is a mess before I even plug it in.  I’m a good pattern follower not a creative artist!

And so, I am doing what has worked for me in the past – I recognize that I am surrounded by the most creative and talented group of people.  My job is to give to them the general vision and then to let them do their magic.  While they do “their thing”, I get out of the way and maintain the “big picture” and the “little things” like budget and schedule and safety. 

Here’s an example:  A talented woman is going to take on staging of our family and friends fellowship area.  As I shared with her what I wanted her to do, she looked at me and said “I don’t have a visual of what you want.”  I totally understood.  We went to the area.  As we walked through the space, I waved my hands a little and talked a lot; I could see the light go on above her head.  As we walked in, I kept talking.  Finally, she turned to me and said, “I’ve got it; I know what to do.”  At that very point, I knew that I should have stopped talking minutes before.  I smiled and shut up.  You see, I trust that she knows what to do.  She has it!

Have you been there?  The task is huge.  The project is important. 

• How about, it’s THANKSGIVING dinner:  only the most important meal of the year. 
• Or, it’s HER CHRISTMAS GIFT:  the present that her entire family will use to judge your worth as a potential family member. 
• Or, it’s the WORK HOLIDAY PARTY: the one evening that you must socialize with your boss. 

Rather than take it on alone, why not enlist the help of others?  When we have the right folks helping us, doing what they do best, we are free to focus on other things that need to be done. 

This year, let’s reduce our holiday stresses this year by accepting some help with things we don’t do well.

(And, don’t forget, while our friends are helping us, we can repay them by helping where we shine.)

Love,

Jill (Just one of God’s kids)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) 

 Have a minute?  Enjoy one of my favorite Beatles’ song:  “Help”

I have a friend who is studying and serving in a foreign country. In that place, she cannot share openly about her love for God and her acceptance of God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. She is careful to respect and to follow the law of the land in which she is living. The penalty of not doing so would be severe for her and those who join her.

But, there is no law against her “sharing her culture.” And, so she does just that!

I am not sure what she does for Veterans Day. But, I know that her celebration of Thanksgiving starts by offering her new friends the food and history of America. But, she doesn’t stop there. She shares her heart about why she is thankful, how God has blessed her with His love and saving grace. This believer goes beyond the turkey, Pilgrims and Native Americans and explains why she is thankful.

At Christmas, she makes her Nativity display a prominent part of her holiday decorations. And, in the middle of cookies and hot chocolate, she tells the story of the miraculous birth and how the love of God came to the earth to live and to teach and to be crucified by man.

At Easter…well, you can only imagine how she celebrates Easter!!

So often, I believe that we define incorrectly our culture as our heritage. I think that my culture isn’t necessarily what my grandparents were and my parents are, it is what I am. I may have retained parts of their culture, but I have also added things of my own.

And, my culture can be modified. What I believed and practiced yesterday doesn’t confine my culture of today or tomorrow.

Don’t limit yourself to your past!! Build on it, improve it, change it.

Ok, gotta go!! Navy is playing Notre Dame today. Part of my culture is being a Navy fan!! (I got that when I married the love of my life, John – a Navy man!). GO NAVY!!

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

Read about how our lives can be changed from the book of Ephesians!!

“And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.

“But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.”

Sometimes, geographic regions get reputations, true or not. Sometimes, groups of people get reputations, true or not. And, sometimes individuals get reputations, true or not.

Yesterday, I was driving to an appointment and got distracted thinking about a project. I made a turn I had not planned on making and got stuck at a stop light. (Friends, Our thoughts distract us enough; we must put down the phone while driving! That was my PSA for the day. Now, back to our story.)

Just beyond the red light, in front of me, was an entrance to the interstate. Usually, cars zoom up the ramp, but, yesterday they were going slowly, weaving around something on the road. Looking more closely, I saw maybe 20 cement blocks on the pavement. Many were broken, but quite a few were still whole. (Run into one of those blocks and your whole day would be ruined.) It appeared that a truck had lost part of a load of building materials.

A deputy sheriff drove up to the ramp with lights flashing. He stopped his car and started moving blocks from the road to the grass shoulder.

Then (this really was a long red light!) a motorcycle rider came on the scene. He parked his bike, said hello to the deputy, and together they tossed cement blocks. The act warmed my heart.

You see, sometimes people believe little rumors or silly jokes or hurtful comments that they have heard:
– Police don’t serve the public.
– The South is full of red light running, moonshine drinking idiots.
– Motorcycle riders are thugs.

But, playing out in front of me, I saw:
– Americans pulling together.
– A deputy working without gloves, without back-up and without a drawn weapon while he fixed a problem.
– A motorcycle riding southerner stopping to make a difference.
– People doing good things without a promise of reward or glory.

As I thought about how my views on others can be biased I was reminded of the story of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus. Read it; it will bless and inspire and motivate you.  The Woman at the Well

Do you deserve a reprieve from false rumors or from a troublesome past? How about someone you will be seeing in the voting booth or at the stadium or in your kitchen; do they deserve a fresh look?

Let’s stop telling the “stories” and quit our “stinking thinking” and give ourselves and those around us a new start. Let us put off planning the holiday menu and the football schedule for a minute or two and get ready for the holidays by getting rid of some “stuff”!!

John and I love them so much; they are 8 years old and two weeks from being a teenager of 14.  Those two girls are hilarious and we have the funniest discussions on our way to and from church each Sunday morning and Wednesday evening.  But, they are like night and day when I pick them up.  Sunday mornings, they are “night.”  Often my knock at their door is their signal to wake up.   They crawl into the car silent, rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.  And, on Wednesday nights, they are “day.”  Their greetings are boisterous and they both start talking at once about their day, what they had for lunch, their friends, and whatever else happens to pop into their heads.

So, I was surprised when I arrived at their house last evening.  The girls weren’t home.  Their mom came outside as I pulled up and explained that they had taken a walk around the neighborhood and were late getting back.  She couldn’t understand what might have delayed them.  Before long, Dad pulled up in his pick-up truck, arriving home from work.  Mom quickly explained our problem and Dad took off, following the path that they often take. It wasn’t long before he was back and the girls were dashing out of Dad’s truck and jumping into our new-to-us Expedition.

It was then that I knew something was wrong.  Little “Joy” (the 8-year-old) was in tears.  She was using only one hand to close the door and grab the seatbelt, while holding the other hand high in the air.  She was breathing hard and struggling with the seat belt.  Mom came to the car window and “Joy”, between sobs, explained that she had hurt her hand but that she wanted to go to church.  Mom made sure that everything was OK and we were on our way.

It took a little while for me to understand what had happened.  Apparently, while walking around their neighborhood, they met a boy who wasn’t very nice.  He pushed “Joy” down.  She wasn’t upset about the boy or the shove, but her hand had fallen hard into a weed that had stickers.  And, those doggone stickers hurt!  A woman, working in her yard, came over and started pulling out stickers.  And, then, if I got the story right, another woman came over to help.  Eventually, a garden hose was pulled out and “Joy’s” hand was washed with cool water.  That’s when Dad came on the scene and they hurried back to the house to leave for church.

As we drove, “Joy” was still sobbing and yet continued to insist that she wanted to go to be with the kids’ group at our church.  I tried to distract her by talking about who she might see there when she perked up and asked, “Could you play that Christmas song?” 

Last Sunday, I was blessed to spend some time at Children’s Church, going over a song that the kids will sing during the adult choir’s Christmas special service.  The song isn’t a typical children’s song and the kids loved it.  The girls and I had practiced it on our way home last Sunday.

I spun up the CD and found the right track.  We sang the song and laughed when it was over.

Then, out of the back seat, came the best announcement I could have hoped for.  “Joy” sang out, “That song made my hand happy!!”  I asked her what that meant and she replied, “My hand doesn’t care about the stickers anymore!”

My Friend, we must never, ever, ever underestimate the power of music!!

• Music can lead us to change our attitudes, to forget our hurts, to put aside our problems. 
• It is true that, as William Congreve noted,  “music has charms to soothe a savage breast.”  (Nope,  that isn’t a line from Shakespeare.) 
• And, the Psalmist’s advice was right: “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.” (Psalm 135:3) I can attest to the fact that praising God through music is much, much more than just pleasant!  The best music helps me look to God and I forget the world around me.   

So, as the election rhetoric gets more heated; as it seems that the end of the work week will never come; as you begin stressing over the game or the holidays or the project; and, as your to do list grows to four pages long – try music!!  It might just make that hurting hand happy.

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p.s.  Can’t find music that meets your desires and can’t afford a subscription service?  Try downloading the “Tunein Radio” app.  You will find all sorts of listening options.  (And, when we are out-of-town, it lets us enjoy play-by-play broadcasts of our favorite minor league baseball team, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.  Find your favorite team and listen to those games you cannot see in person.)

p.s.s.  Having problems believing how music can impact our lives?  Read this article from Medical News Today.  It makes some interesting points!  “The Power of Music: how it can benefit health.”   

It started a couple of weeks ago and I knew that I was in trouble.  A change was required immediately.  My faithful friend was failing.  Sometimes I thought that it was asleep or maybe even dead.  But, then it would wake up and surprise me.  And, then, it died right in the middle of an important call.  It was time to get a new phone!

This morning, we went to the AT&T store and bought a new one.  As “the guy” was setting things up, I asked him if I could trade in my old one.  He looked it over and deducted $40 from our bill.  I didn’t even blink.  I turned in my old phone for cash; I wasn’t emotional at all. 

The transaction reminded me of when, earlier this fall, we traded in the Explorer (with over 200,000 miles) for a “new to us” vehicle. The Explorer had taken us all over the nation and had served us well.  As we turned in the keys, I expected to feel something.  I tried to drum up a little emotion, but I didn’t cry a single tear.  

Have I become calloused?  Has my heart hardened??  Don’t I care anymore???

Several years ago, I was driving the Explorer with one of the girls seated in the back seat.  She was holding on to a red balloon that was left over from a family party the night before.  There were still more red balloons in the package, ready to be blown up. 

As we drove down the road, she spent about an hour batting that balloon all over the back seat.  And then, she asked if I would roll down the windows so that she could feel the breeze.  I warned her to hold on to the balloon and I lowered the glass panes.  Then, the inevitable happened, the balloon went flying out of the window and the tears started flowing.  She didn’t cry out loud, but her tears rolled so quickly that soon her shirt was soaked. 

I stopped the car; I told her that it was sad to lose the balloon, but that we could blow up another one. It was then that I heard her say that hated phrase, “But, I wanted that one!!!”  And, then the wailing began.  It was sad and pitiful.

I liked my phone.  I enjoyed the old vehicle.  I’m an adult – I don’t care about things!!  I have no “red balloons” in my world.  Oh, wait, maybe I do. 

–        Don’t touch that last French fry on my plate – the crispy one that I have been saving!!

–        Say disparaging things about my football team and you are toast.

–        If one of my favorite pens disappears again, I am searching everyone in this room.

–        Put down the remote!!!

The next time we are mopping up a kid’s tears because of a lost, precious balloon, it might be good to think about our own “precious” things.  I may have more important “stuff” than I will admit!   Maybe before I start the holiday “gathering together”, I need to clear out and clean up some of my attitudes!! 

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The book of James seems to scream “listen up” to me.  Maybe it might make sense to you.

(James 4:1-5) “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

“You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

“You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that ‘he’s a fiercely jealous lover.’ And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that ‘God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.’”

Today is my Mom’s 88^th birthday.  She is doing well and doesn’t mind me telling folks her age.  I am blessed that both of my parents are great and enjoying these fall days. (The picture of them is from our train ride in Branson, Missouri, about two weeks ago.) 

It was from those two, amazing people, Bill and Norma Mullins, that I first learned the importance of “gathering together.”   Growing up in the home that they created meant spending quality time with family and friends, and meeting and learning from new people.  My Poppa knows no strangers.  And, no one ever left my Mom’s home hungry or in search of a place to spend the night. 

They believe in community.  In family.  In hospitality.  In being generous with your time, your talents, your resources and your heart.  Daily they strive, without looking like they are working at it, to get closer to God, to each other and to family and friends. 

For the past three years, I have shared stories about the holidays and this year won’t be any different.  But, before we start all of that, I want to begin this year’s holiday series by asking “what should I do to intentionally gather together?”   During this time of celebration, I want to grow closer to God and John and family and friends.  And, I want to spend some time “gathering” myself “together.” 

2016 has been a strange year.  Our housing situation is still unusual and challenging.  I have spent the last four months learning how to use my new, artificial knee.  A presidential election is only a week away and the media screams daily about growing divisions in our nation.  And, all three of our amazing granddaughters are college students, learning new things about people and about life. 

Like never before, I feel the need to pause, reflect and consider, “what should I do to intentionally gather together?” 

Join me on this journey to 2017. 

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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.

 Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

 We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant, And pray that Thou still our Defender will be; Let Thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!