Not so fast mister.

I had this feeling today had potential. You know how it works; you get up, get something from God that strikes you a little deeper than most days and just know. At the same moment I knew that I would have to fight to keep that attitude and I had a feeling something or someone was lurking nearby ready to try and take it away from me.

Without giving too many details, because some of you were there, it happened just as I suspected. I had a great meeting, made some phone calls; even saw my former owner at KEZI Scott Chambers. We had a good talk and the day is only half over. But out the blue, when I wasn’t expecting it I got a phone call that brought up an accusation that goes way back. The person on the other end of the phone was not the culprit. He had no idea he was feeding a fire with gas but he was and for a moment I shut down. It was one of those nagging little things that stirred memories of the campaign, thoughts from my childhood and all sorts of crap.

I used to toy, toil and torment myself by going over what was said in my head. The thought was if I could manipulate the information or come up with a reason or an excuse, I could explain why someone was being so rude.

I don’t do that anymore. For a minute I cared about what was said because it struck the nerve. But I’m learning to deaden the nerve and fight off the temptation to worry or rearrange information to make myself feel better. Maybe I’m really starting to understand that I will never be understood and that there is a force (Satan) that is trying to rob me of my joy.

The day is only half over. I have two more meetings and some work to do. I’m sure that voice, that phone call, or a surprise moment will try again to blur my focus. I can only pray that God will continue showing me that I only have to please one….and He’s easy.

Making Ordinary Lives for people with Extraordinary Circumstances (Click here for video)

Most of us long for an extraordinary life. We aren’t satisfied with what we have and long to have something special, something better, something more. What if your circumstances were extraordinary and all you really wanted was an ordinary life. I know a group of people like that and they refresh me when I hang out with them. They teach me that ordinary is not a punishment but a goal. They remind me that simple is sublime. They show me that my priorities need to be raised not lowered but that sometimes I don’t understand more is actually less and less is much harder to achieve. Confused? Good. Now you can watch this story.

Client: Oregon Supported Living Program

Here come the Grape Crushers

I knew I shouldn’t have gone there.

Yesterday I was lured into a conversation on the Internet about Church and what it is and what it isn’t. I shouldn’t have taken the bait. It wasn’t a bad conversation but whenever I get into these discussions dogma, doctrine and theology rob me of bits of pieces of what God has shown me to be true.

Imagine my surprise when I got up this morning and God showed me some cool thoughts.

I know I was made for His Glory but was not clear as to what that meant. I think most of us think that means God’s use. I don’t see it that way but let’s not argue. I was reading a book by John Eldridge and this popped out at me.

“The Glory of God is man (or woman) fully alive.”

My coming alive is what God is committed to.  To come alive means you have to fight to keep death from smothering the things that God has shown you.

I like that.

Next was something from good old Oswald Chambers.  He was talking about wine. Not Whine.

Oswald was comparing the process of making wine (crushing grapes and fermentation) to the crushing that must take place before we truly come alive. I find the crusher to be those who make my life miserable. So unfortunately those irritating people must be my key for coming fully alive.

Do you ever ask this question; God can’t you just snap your fingers and wake me up?

Yeh, it never happens.

So, here come the grape crushers.

The Village Green Resort is back (click here for video)

The Village Green Resort is in the middle of a transformation. I’d never been there but was shocked to see how nice the place is when I visited to do this story. The gardens are amazing, the food at the restaurant is wonderful and they have a cool bar. There are plenty of specials. You can actually stay the night, get dinner for two and breakfast, plus a bottle of Lorane Vineyards wine for 89 dollars. I recommend you pay an extra 20 bucks and get one of the new, improved rooms.

Take a look at this video.

The company that owns this hotel also owns the Oregon Gardens, near Salem.

Client: Village Green Resort and Garden/Moonstone Hotels.

One of the things I really Love about God

Last night I was speaking at this event in Creswell. When it was over this man and his wife walked up to me with a look in their eyes that said; “We want a different life.” I was talking with someone else at the time but could feel this tug to finish the conversation I was in and get to this couple.

As soon as the guy I was talking with took a breath I reached out and introduced myself to this young man and his wife. Instantly there was a connection. We all three just started talking and things started to pour out of his life and into the conversation.

His wife stepped away so the conversation could get more personal and so that her husband could say the things he needed to say. The look in his eyes was one of great relief. It was as if the things he’d wanted to say were being extricated from his life and he wasn’t restricting the flow.

I remember what it felt like when someone listened to me the first time and didn’t give me religious garbage or three part sermons to make life better. I remember the first time God interrupted my life with truth not another book or self-help novel that only put a band aide on the real problem. I remembered last night what it felt like to feel that flow that love of God for another person that you really don’t even know yet.

I guess the reason it’s so important is that it reminds us of how much God really cares for people. It reminds us that we have a role to play but we don’t get to pick it. It reminds us that someone really is in charge and it isn’t us.

Thanks God for another moment in time.

The Glove

There is something that prevents me from fully connecting to The Father. It’s like a glove that fits so well it almost seems part of me. I know it doesn’t belong here but it protects my hand and when moments become too difficult the glove provides a level of perceived protection that I’ve come to depend on.

The glove is not something I simply put on now and then. The glove is always there. I long to understand life without the glove. I wonder that there is not a level of feeling I can’t quite commit to because the glove is in the way. I don’t like the glove and as I mature it doesn’t fit that well. But after 50-yearrs how does one take the glove off for good?

Here I am at 5:30 in the morning. I look up and imagine The Father holding out his hand saying “Rick, hand me the glove.”

It’s not that simple but just knowing that causes me to believe that something in me is dying and this could be a very good day.