Half Done

Half baked - half done - accomplishes nothing.  When planning any project there are certain steps that need to be followed to guarantee success - planning - designing - creating - implementing - finalizing - reviewing - correcting - reviewing - adjusting - an ongoing process. You see - most projects do not have a final end date - there is always some follow up required. One does not build a house without planning for routine maintenance. There is always maintenance - unless you are comfortable with the project becoming outdated - obsolete - unattractive - no longer meaningful. Probably one of the hardest projects to attempt is building a web site. All too many people make the mistake of thinking their job is done once the initial site goes live - wrong.  Websites are dynamic - constantly being viewed - reviewed - updated. They take on lives of their own - requiring - demanding - constant attention by their creator.

When we consider our relationship with God - we learn that He is never done with us. We are His creation - His project - His love - reflected through our lives - viewed daily through the eyes of others whom He has created. Each of us is a reflection of His love - a myriad array of light beams - love beams - shining through the darkness of this world - giving proof of Him - the author of life - the lover of the world - the creator of all. God knew that once He created us - ongoing intervention would be needed - adjustments made - improvements introduced. That is our history - the story of our relationship with Him - the one who continues to work in our lives daily. We are a creation of God - each and everyone of us - He is not finished with us - never will be - thank God.

Deacon Dale 

And This Too Shall Pass....

I am referring to the bitter cold that we have been experiencing lately - I am not a fan of bitter cold.  Normal cold - above freezing is tolerable - even temperatures in the twenties - are tolerable - below zero - that is another story.  Now that I am older - some say ancient - the cold has an unfavorable affect on me.  It makes me want to do my imitation of a bear - hibernate - stay under the covers - snuggled warmly in bed. Unfortunately - life cannot be lived under twelve inches of sheets - comforters - blankets.  Life is for the living - the living move and breathe - walk - wander - exercise - accomplish - socialize - think - dream - much more than just exist.  I do not want to simply exist - I need to live - to be active.  I need to "be" - to "do" - to "live".

As spiritual beings - our spiritual lives need to be "lived" just as much as our physical and intellectual lives do.  We cannot let our relationship with God go into hibernation - dormant - bearing no fruit.  Spiritually - we need to be pro-active as with every other part of our lives - we must be thinking - meditating - praying - following Jesus. To be healthy spiritually - one must make a conscious effort to do spiritual exercises - to keep that part of our life healthy and strong.  The best part - it can be done in any type of weather! Jesus is waiting - just like your personal trainer - waiting for you to take that first step - even in below zero temperatures!

Deacon Dale

New Gateway

New Gateway Added

As we begin to register participants for the Poland Pilgrimage we have had requests from interested people to make it easier to join the group.  To this end - we now have four gateways available to choose from:

.  Chicago - LAX - Orlando - San Diego

POLAND 2014 Pilgrimage

July 25 - Aug 3, 2014

10 Day Spiritual Travel Experience

*All Inclusive Per Person Double Occupancy

$3338* from Chicago

$3636* from Orlando

$3738* from LAX

$3788* from San Diego

Registration is available online

Register Here

Deadline to register is March 11, 2013

Late registrations open til April 11, 2014

(Penalty May Apply)

Deacon Dale 

Raindrops.....

Yes - raindrops keep falling on my head - as the song goes - unfortunately I was not outside in the rain - rather in my garage attic - that was not a good thing.  Seems that because of the extreme cold - condensation had built up on the rafters - so much that it was falling like raindrops. Hopefully - increased air flow will solve that issue - waiting to see how effective that is.  My preference - in place of raindrops - is sunlight bathing me in a warm glow - hopefully in the near future.

God is constantly raining His blessings down upon all of us - like morning dew - raindrops from heaven. Many recognize His constant outpouring of blessings - some do not.  There is no good or bad season - when it comes to God's blessings - they are there - constantly.  If you have not seen any blessings in your life - stop - look around - you will be surprised.  A smile - a laugh - a hug - a kind word - a bit of encouragement - all signs of God's blessings.  Open your eyes - ears - heart - God will not disappoint,

Deacon Dale

eeeeeeeepiphany!

BAM! That is how epiphany happens. It may develop over a period of time - or in an instant. One moment there is nothing - then - manifestation - realization - awareness - a God moment - Divine revelation.  Events happen in a progressive order - beginning - development - implementation - comprehension - appreciation.  God is the one who starts the ball rolling - we become involved - experience revelation - appreciate the experience - are changed. 

God's revelation to the world - multiple epiphany events -  to the shepherds in the field -  the visit of the Magi  - the miracle at Cana - Jesus' baptism in the Jordan by John - His resurrection - His appearance to the disciples in the upper room - to the two on the road to Emmaus - all Divine revelation.  Moments to reveal God's presence in human lives - in our lives. In today's celebration of the Epiphany - when the Magi presented gifts to the baby - we celebrate with joy - the most awesome gift of Jesus to us - His love - His compassion - His forgiveness - His acceptance - His very gift of life.  We rejoice in Jesus as GIFT - we ponder ourselves as GIFT to Jesus. He - the Saviour of the world offers each of us hope.  As Christ's modern disciples - we are called to be Christ like - to reflect His love - to offer ourselves to each other - to offer His hope.

Merry Christmas - the 12th Day of Christmas
Deacon Dale 

What Was I Thinking?

How many times have you asked yourself that question - "what was I thinking" - unable to come up with a reasonable answer. Everyone does this - from time to time - caught up in the emotions of the moment - blood rapidly flowing through your brain - heart beating rapidly - mouth fully engaged - brain two minutes behind.  We misspeak - we misstate - we offer our opinion - too quickly - without all the information - without taking time to think through the situation.  In our desire to be of assistance - in a quick manner - we wag our tongue - when we should have taken a deep breath instead - and waited.  Sometimes we only make ourselves look foolish - sometimes we hurt feelings - on occasion - we cause problems. Why do we do that?  What was our rush - our intent?

It might be cute when a baby puts a foot in their mouth - adults are expected to avoid that scenario - most do - most of the time.  For those times when we do misspeak - hopefully - we are mature enough to apologize - correct our actions. Jesus asks each of us to treat others with love and respect - acting charitable - forgiving error - accepting those who are different - forgiving. When the shoe is on the other foot - others should reciprocate. As we begin this New Year of 2014 - all of us need to reshape our minds - hearts - attitudes - to that of Jesus - to be more Christ like.

Merry Christmas - Yes, It is still Christmas!

Deacon Dale 

Moving On - Moving In

It is January 2, 2014 - the old year has passed away - whatever happened in 2013 is now history - the new year of 2014 is one day old and the future looks bright - the possibilities unlimited - the potential still untapped. No matter what issues you had to face in 2013 - most are now tucked away - fond memories at best. What lies ahead for each of us is still to be discovered. Resolutions - make them if you will - if you want to feel like a failure when you don't succeed - better than a resolution - take action - today. Do not plan your future actions - implement them! Identify your goal - if nothing else - write it down in your heart - start living it immediately. How far you go - how successful you will be - is limited only by your commitment to yourself.

Start your new year with a prayer - ask God to bless all your plans and activities for 2014 - then live them - with Jesus at your side. He is there waiting - to take your hand - waiting to hold you - waiting to walk with you.  You need to take the first step - to place your trust in Him - invite Him into your heart - ask Him to move in to your life.

Happy New Year
Deacon Dale 

Surviving Christmas

Christmas is an awesome time of year - the fellowship with family - friends - casual acquaintances - the joyful spirit that springs forth from everywhere - the increase in all kinds of activities - shopping - parties - concerts - caroling - traveling - waiting in line - unexpected surprises - good and bad - all add to what makes Christmas so special  and 

STRESSFUL

YES - Virginia there is stress. However stress does not have to be a bad thing - there is both good and bad stress - stress that energizes - stress  that debilitates - physical stress and emotional stress - real stress - perceived stress - anticipatory stress - situational stress - encounter stress - time stress. Everyone has to cope with stress - children as well as adults - singles as well as couples. Stress can cripple - bring things to a screeching halt - ruin events and projects - or - it may stimulate - challenge - create - results beyond ones wildest dreams and expectations. All of us experience stress - Santa has stress (thank God for the space time continuum - just ask Albert Einstein or Doctor Who?) - God has stress - Jesus had stress. Bottom line - it is how you manage stress and what YOU choose to do with it - that determines if it ends up being a positive or negative experience.  Christmas season is stressful - invite Jesus into your heart and let Him help you enjoy it!

Deacon Dale 

Giving Away Christmas

Yes - I mean it - here take it - take my Christmas - take the commotion - take the last minute rush - take the songs - take the trees - take everything.......

and enjoy it! 

 Yes I want you to enjoy MY Christmas! Enjoy the gatherings - the gift exchanges - the food and drink - the festivities - and - remember the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Remember that Jesus was born to us -

 Because God Loves Us!

Jesus came to us - a gift from God - because He loves us and wants us to experience life to the fullest in all we do - at home - at work - at church - in the temple -in our minds and hearts - and mostly in our hearts.

Freely share the gift you have received with everyone you meet - freely share the gift of Christ!

Deacon Dale 

Atheists & Agnostics Observe Christmas?

Recently I watched a movie called "Switchmas" on Netflix  - a story about a young Jewish boy obsessed with Christmas - his efforts to become a part of the Christmas holiday - all the small things that make Christmas so special for people around the world. Switching identities with another young boy on his way to visit relatives at Christmas Town in Washington State - provides the opportunity to become immersed into the traditional Christmas activities. Experiencing the twist and turns of the story - happy moments as well as unhappy - the Jewish lad finally figures out how - as a Jewish person - he may become a part of the Christmas holiday. I won't reveal what he does - only to say that through the course of the movie an interesting fact was revealed to the audience - many of our popular Christmas songs were written by non-Christians! Another point that was brought up - by the actor playing the part of an adult Jewish man - who played the part of Santa Claus - who else is free on the holiday to be Santa  - if not a Jew - he exclaims. The proclamation at the end of the movie - Christmas is for everybody - not just Christians - not just believers - but everybody!

This has implications - especially for those who profess no belief or question the existence of God - Jesus - the value of religion - the value of religious holidays. Whether they want to or not - they are as involved in Christmas - Easter - Hanukkah - Yom Kippur - Ramadan - Kwanzaa - Eid-al-Adha - among others - as those of us who do observe these. The non-believer who sells items used in the observance of any of these holidays - the person who works on one of those days - so others may actively participate - all the atheists and agnostics that work - manufacture - buy - sell -service any of the thousands of products used by or in these celebrations - are themselves involved in the very things that they profess no belief or interest in. Like it or not - all of us - are involved in others observances. When we hear of a legal case involving the ACLU - we become involved. When we hear of any religious holiday - we become involved. The level of involvement will vary greatly - but even in a very small way - we become involved. Only those who are dead - or brain dead - can claim total uninvolvement - the remainder of us - share in each other's holidays and beliefs.

That is as it should be - I am not only responsible for my life - but also for how I relate and react to your life - we are more connected to each other than we realize.  Jesus said He came not for all - but for many. He knew some would reject Him - that is OK - it is your free will to accept or reject.  For me and my household - we will serve The Lord.

Deacon Dale