It is Tuesday. I have spent the day in the hospital with my wife as she had a procedure done. She did well and now we wait for the results which can take about one to two weeks. There are times that the waiting is actually more anxious than knowing. This is the time when faith is so important. For we all of us waiting for something better in our lives that occur after our life here on this earth is over. Until such a time and in the midst of the anxiety, we depend on faith to see us through.

Tuesday is also a time when I receive my Serving strong. Once again I found it pertinent to what I have been reflecting on.

Serving Strong eNews A Tuesday morning minute just for you because you care for others.
Underminers
Undermine. The term comes from the act of digging under a castle wall in preparation to breach its defenses. You are under - mining it (digging a mine under it.)

This metaphor can be applied to our calling as people-helpers. There are things, circumstances, attitudes, and people who can act to breach our defenses and weaken our posture of strength.

YOUR UNDERMINERS

What is breaching your defenses and undermining your ability to serve strong? We each have them. They are unique to each of us. Some are a product of our making. Others are imposed on us. The first step in dealing with them is to identify them. Here are a few Underminers to nudge your creativity:
That chronic complainer you know
Going too long without sleep
Being overdrawn in your bank account
Personal criticism
The state of the global economy
A personal bad habit
Gripping a grudge or failing to forgive
Interpersonal conflict
Too much to do in too little time
Little-to-no space to think, dream, reflect, and plan
Hit-or-miss relationship with God
Once you identify them, determine exactly how they are keeping you from being strong and why you are allowing them in. When undermined, you aren't firing on all cylinders... your span of care suffers... you aren't at your best.

Now, carve out 1 or 2 positive next steps you will take over the next 7 days to positively address a couple Underminers from under your "castle walls."


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I'll "see" you right here next week.
FORWARD THIS ISSUE TO A COLLEAGUE

I finally figured out my email dilemma. Apparently what happened was that somehow the auto reply for being on vacation got turned on and the message was added. So anyone who wrote me on my hotmail account would get this. Whoever did this was able to uncheck my contact list as well. I have turned that off and will be monitoring it in the future. I will still be using my gmail account at reveldon@gmail.com.
Holy Week is fast approaching and with that several services and special activities. With the sermon series coming to an end, I plan to look at future series to deal with our daily lives such as families and parenting and not just being biological parents. We are all parents to one degree or another. So stayed tuned.

For those who read my blog. An update my hotmail email account has been compromised. I will be switching to reveldon@gmail.com It seems with the burglary, my wife's health issues, and now this one more thing. i will be writing later but wanted to make sure that people are aware also that I did not email a new business adventure that I supposedly sponsor. I did not and it is a scam.

It's Friday of what has been quite the week. Between visits to hospitals and dealing with the after effects of last weekend, time had a way of getting away. Sometimes when one is discouraged we need those opportunities to remember that we are a family and a loving community. I received a comment which readers can see about what it means to be a family especially to those who are in school or serving our country. Thank you for helping me to remember that no matter what events may discourage and dishearten us, we are in ministry and serving not only our adults but reaching out to others. I have also been deliberately praying for the individuals who came into our church as I hope others have also.

I am going to talk about call this Sunday and that we are all called to ministry. It is not the whole responsibility of the ordained clergy to do all the ministry. We are all ministers. Sometimes one can wonder whether or not God is calling them to do something or to say something. I have had people wonder if what they are feeling is coming from God or from their own ego or some dark place. I respond to them and to myself by stating is what I am hearing compatible with scripture and with the tradition that I ascribe to. I also keep in mind that I believe God wants us to build each other up in love. That does not mean we do not hold each other accountable but it means that we need to allow God to work in relationship and not determine that it is up to us to fix people or to save them. We cannot do that only God can. So if I feel that God is saying something to me about someone else, I first look to myself to determine if maybe what is being said is more towards me. Then I pray for God to direct me. If I am approaching someone in regards to accountability, I need to do this in love and with the idea of not just criticizing them. I will ask if they want to hear what I have to say and then I also need to have some ideas of what is the alternative. Too often people are easy to criticize but offer little in ways of changing. Than is not building up disciples but destroying them.

Call is like that also. We are so gifted by our Creator. We are to use those gifts of time, talent, and treasure to build the kingdom not ourselves. The question I have to ask myself is how am I using the gifts that God has given me to glorify God. How about you?

It's Tuesday and I received my serving strong newsletter. Thought I would share it with you.

Serving Strong eNews

A Tuesday morning minute just for you because you care for others.

	Serving Strong eNews has been named a "2008 All Star" by Constant Contact. This prestigious award is granted to companies who communicate regularly with their subscribers and who are clearly interested in hearing from them. Serving Strong maintains sound permission-based email marketing and list management best practices. Be assured Serving Strong will uphold this honor.

Your Own Bailout

Ever grip a grudge? Ever harbor a hurt? Someone said something to you last week and you just can't get past it. You want to get even. You want to display how hurt you are in front of them.

ANATOMY OF A GRUDGE

What really happens when we hold on to hurts? How does it effect us? For starters, it holds hostage a portion of our mental space. This is space we need to devote to our jobs and ministries. Without mental freedom our focus is limited. We are unable to be in the moment when needed. It can also have physical downsides effecting heart rate and blood pressure.*

ANATOMY OF A BAILOUT

It's in the news. The US is engaged in a season of bailout. A bailout is a forgiveness of a debt. When we forgive someone of their debt (i.e. their hurt against us), we bail them out. Doing this, we free up our mental space for a more fulfilling life. We increase our opportunities for professional success. We serve with greater intensity and purpose. And we are actually contributing to our own physical health.

Here's a 4-point ACTION LIST:

1. List the hurt(s) you are harboring this very moment.
2. Draw an imaginary line on the floor.
3. Slowly step over the line, saying to yourself, "I choose freedom. I choose to forgive."
4. If you need additional professional help to get over the line, seek it!

So what's it gonna be? What are you going to build into the fabric of your life: A begruding spirit or a bailout spirit? I guarantee, your answer will directly impact your ability to serve strong.

* Some thoughts generated from a WebMD article.

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I'll "see" you right here next week.

This has been quite the day. This Sunday I was going to talk about stretching our faith and relating it to the story in Luke 15 about the prodigal son. Today my faith was tested as I discovered that our church was burglarized. In talking to the deputy and crime scene investigator and with news reporters, I felt the mixture of feelings that come with this event. I was initially hurt, angry, dismayed that someone would rob us. Now that I have time to reflect on this I realize that my faith is in need of stretching. I know that God loves all people even those who would steal from His place of worship. I know also that God is a merciful God and willing to forgive us no matter our sins.
I was reflecting on the younger son and his faith journey. One of my staff stated who would he be today. Would he be an addict? Would he be a thief? And to realize that this young son came to a point in his life recognizing his sin and his willingness to face the consequences of his choices and knowing that he risked the rejection of his Father. So when he came home and his Father ran out to him, hugging him crying not out of judgment but out of mercy that "he who was dead is alive, he who was lost was found." So too must I come to that point of forgiveness and ask others to pray for him or them. My faith is being stretched and I pray for God's spirit to guide me.

Tonight we met for our communion service as we continued to talk about the seven days during Holy Week. I often am touched by the people who gather and share with one another. I am also amazed at the ways that spirit touches us. There has been such a commotion in the news about AIG and the ways that they took advantage of others and their mismanagement of their company and awarding their staff with bonuses that came from the bailout. I marvel as to how any one would be willing to do that and believe that it was OK. As we reflected on the scripture from Mark 14:3-11 about the woman anointing Jesus and Judas betraying Jesus the contrast of what one can do with money.

What is happening today is similar to what happened with Enron and others in 2001. We did not learn anything about our immorality, greed, and lack of concern for those who place their trust in their corporations. The same is true with these banks that are failing. As liberal as I am, there is a point where maybe these banks needed to fail rather than be awarded money for their incompetence. Though lest I be the first to cast stones, I know that in my life how difficult it is for me at times with the way I treat money. I guess that is why Jesus had more to say about money and the attitudes we have towards it than almost anything else.

So as upset as I get when I see such corruption I need to look to myself and to ask God for help in my struggles. I pray for God to hold my accountable for my sins as I learn to forgive others. At the same time others also need to be accountable and I pray that God will guide them to being willing to allow Him into their lives.