H.O.P.E. – Helping Other People Everywhere
We’re getting ready to kick-off the second year of our service group. Our daughter, Hannah, came up with a new name for the group – H.O.P.E. which stands for Helping Other People Everywhere. The group is designed for adults and kids elementary school age and older, and the group gets together twice a month to serve other people in practical ways, to fellowship with each other, and to have a great time.
Generally, we meet the first and third Tuesday evenings of the month. On the first Tuesday of the month, we get together for a potluck style dinner. At this meeting, we will usually participate in a small craft or project that benefits different causes. Last year, we made cards for soldiers, filled eggs for Easter, and made crafts for hospice patients. During this meeting, we will usually spend a few minutes discussing why we serve. On the third Tuesday of the month, we go out and serve off-site. Last year, we served in soup kitchens, nursing homes, Cradles to Crayons, Open Door Ministry Thrift Store, and Philabundance.
Our first meeting is coming up next week. H.O.P.E. will meet at our house at 6:30PM on Tuesday, October 4, 2011. We’re looking forward to starting up again, and we’d love to see new faces. If you’re interested, drop me a comment, so we can get back to you. This is a great group for families, couples, or singles who are looking for ways to connect with others and for ways to help other people.
When was the last time that you stopped to help someone else? How did it go?
What kinds of projects would you like to get involved with that help others and show God’s love in practical ways?
5 at Five
Five at five in the pouring rain
I hit the road and I feel no pain.
The lightning brightens up the sky,
I’m lost in my thoughts as my feet do fly.
Running brings me great relief,
I clear my head as I grit my teeth.
My body groans as I roll out of bed,
But it springs to life once the shoes do tread.
My morning run gives me time to ponder,
As I collect my thoughts and allow some to wander.
I’m thankful for these five at five,
When my soul wakes up and I feel alive.
I really appreciated my run this morning. As I prepare for my day and for the 1st ever Perk Trail Half, these are just some of my thoughts.
Are you a runner? What do you do on your runs? What do you think about while you’re pounding the pavement?
Race to Remember – Perk Trail Half Marathon – September 11, 2011
So…I have an idea. Are you ready?
Early this summer, I was inspired by an article in Runner’s World to follow a half marathon training program. I did some research, and I discovered that there was a half marathon being run on September 10th in Bird in Hand which isn’t too far from here (relatively speaking). I counted back and figured out when to start the training schedule in order to be ready for the race. I never signed up for the race as I wasn’t sure our family schedule would permit me to race on that day. As it turns out, September 10th didn’t work out. I’ve known this for a while, but I’ve continued to follow the training program. It’s been great for me! I have rebuilt my endurance and some of my “speed.”
As I’ve approached this upcoming weekend, I was determined to continue my training and find a way to run 13.1 miles. Last week, I dawned on my that September 11th will be an interesting day to run a half marathon – especially on the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. So here’s where my idea come in.
I’m planning to run 13.1 miles (half marathon distance) this Sunday on the Perkiomen Trail where I’ve done most of my training runs. If you’re interested (let me know), my plan is to start the “race” at mile marker 11 which is located behind Tailwinds Bike Shop in Schwenksville, PA. I’ll run south through Collegeville, PA to mile marker 4.5 which is located at Yerkes Road. I’ll turn around and come back with the finish past mile marker 11 at the Schwenksville Fire Department. My thought is to have a moment of silence before the start of the “race” to remember those impacted by the events which transpired 10 years ago.
I’ve also been thinking about dedicating each mile to thinking and praying for different people (and things)…Mile 1: Spouses of those who lost their lives on September 11th…Mile 2: Children of those who lost their lives on September 11th…Mile 3: Firefighters…Mile 4: Policemen…Mile 5: Service men and women…Mile 6: Leaders in our country…Mile 7: Leaders around the world…Mile 8: Leaders in our community…Mile 9: People who work in New York City…Mile 10 People who work in Washington, D.C….Mile 11: Churches and Aid Organizations…Mile 12: Our Enemies…Mile 13: Peace.
I’ve run the idea past a few people, and I’ve heard that some people might be interested in running a 5K (3.1 miles) instead. That’s definitely a great idea. It would mean started and finishing at the same points mentioned above, but the turnaround point would be mile marker 9.5 which is just south of the walking bridge past Plank Road Park.
As you may remember, I’m a big numbers guy, so here are some numbers to remember for the run this Sunday.
5 – 5K if you’re interested
7 – 7AM this is the start time – be there 10-15 minutes early if you’re planning to run
9 – September
11 – 11th
13 – 13.1 miles (Perk Trail Half Marathon)
So what do you think? Are you in? If not, I understand. Maybe you can take some time to remember those impacted by September 11th. Maybe you’ll stop by the trail and cheer on me (and any other runners). If you’re planning to run or cheer, drop me a comment.
For now, there won’t be any timekeepers, race T-shirts (although the idea crossed my mind), winners or losers, or aid stations. It’s for fun, and I think it will be a Race to Remember.
What will you be doing to remember September 11th?
Stretch A Little, Give A Lot
Today, Michael Grasso is my guest blogger. I met Mike at my men’s group (M.E.A.T. – Men Eating and Talking) last week, and we quickly discovered that we shared a passion for blogging. Mike writes some great stuff, so please check him out at his blog. Mike shares his stretching thoughts below.
America = Greedy, money-grubbing, materialistic, sinners.
Ok now that I have your attention let’s talk. There are over 250 verses in the Bible about money, some good some bad. What I want to encourage you to do is give a lot, even if it means you have to stretch a little. The first 10% goes to God. There is no question there, some will say God asks us for too much. Uh, hello didn’t you just pray for a plasma screen TV. Who is asking much of whom? We often need to take a step back and dwell on what we ask of God. We ask for healing, we ask for strength, we ask for love, we ask for forgiveness. To me 10% is a good deal for all that I am getting for it. Can you truly put a price on love or forgiveness? Think about it this way, everything you have is God’s, so that 10% was His to begin with. Do you truly think that if Jesus Christ was walking down the street today and found $20 on the ground that He would just put it in his pocket and be happy that lunch is on someone else? Jesus would use that $20 to bless someone.
I strongly encourage you to try this, take a bill that you feel you can truly give and not foreclose on your house. Set it aside in your wallet/purse and pray, tell God that you set this aside to bless someone, God will guide you. You may be out at lunch, grocery shopping, picking the kids up from ball practice, whatever it may be God will place someone in your path to bless. I know you probably think that I am crazy, asking who does this kind of stuff, Christians do. Christ followers need to be seen as givers. Again think about what Jesus gave us. Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Let’s not want, but want to give.
Blessing is like a viral infection, in a good way. When you take a moment to bless someone, they may take a moment to bless another and so on. This of course only works if you get the ball rolling. So keep that 10% going to God, but I ask you to stretch, and bless someone this week.
Are you willing to take the blessing challenge? If you do please share your blessing story.
(If you’re interested in sharing your stretch stories as a guest blogger, please leave me a comment. I love to hear and share your stories.)
Small Holdings Festival
Recently, one of my office team members invited me to bring my family to a new festival being held in Bucks County, PA. The First Annual Small Holdings Festival showcased area suburban self starters. The various exhibitors were regular people who found have found ways to live off the land, to live off the labors of their own hands, and to make decisions that will provide while being good stewards of the earth around us.
My team member, Eric, spends his spare time running Barefoot Gardens with his wife, Linda. Together, they take care of a “farm” that serves their CSA and provides for local restaurants who are seeking to serve locally grown produce to their patrons. Part of Eric’s farm includes raising approximately 100 egg laying chickens. (Eric has become one of my mentors in the whole chicken farming thing.) Eric built a chicken coop for the festival.
Other exhibitors for the festival included bee keepers, cheese makers, gardeners, canning experts, vegetable fermenting experts, bread makers, clay oven makers, and several others. I was definitely inspired by the talents presented at this festival. And I look forward to going again next year!
What inspires you? If you could try something new, what would it be?
Locks of Love
The generous heart of my daughter never ceases to amaze me. As you can see by the pictures, Hannah decided several months ago to grow her hair out, so she could donate to Locks of Love. Locks of Love provides wigs for children who are facing hair loss for various reasons. Hair is a big deal for girls, women, and kids. So when Hannah decided to have her hair cut so someone else could enjoy a head of hair, it was quite a sacrifice – at least in my mind.
It makes me think about true sacrifice. I am so often caught up in my own self interest. I don’t put others first. I’m thinking of me – instead of thinking of others. I often fall short when it comes to true sacrifice.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Jesus is the ultimate example of true sacrifice. He who was without sin laid down his life on the cross for us that we might be saved.
I’m thankful for Hannah’s example, it reminds me of Christ. It reminds me that I need to be sacrificial if I’m going to be a Christ follower. Thanks, Sweetie!
What does it really mean to make a sacrifice for someone? When was the last time you really sacrificed something for someone?
Getting Back To The Basics – Cape Cod Baseball League
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a big baseball fan. I have followed the game for most of my life – first as a Chicago Cubs fan – and now as a Philadelphia Phillies fan (since 1980 when I moved to the Philly area). It’s been fun to support the Phillies especially over the past five years as they have been very competitive, but…
Professional baseball isn’t what it used to be. With steroids, free agency, lack of player/team loyalty, higher ticket prices, and a crazy pay structure, players and teams don’t relate to average fans – like myself. I have found my overall interest in the game slacking off. Much of this is due to the realities of adult life – I now have a family and a job that require my full attention. But I believe that some of my fading interest in the game is related to the fact that professional baseball has gotten away from its roots.
This is why I loved going to see a Cape Cod Baseball League game when Leanne and I vacationed in Cape Cod a few weeks ago. The teams in the league are made up of college baseball players who are looking for a way to work on their skills over the summer. Players come from all over the country to play in this league. They are not paid. They live with volunteer host families. And the games which are played at a high level are free to the public. Players actually walk around during the game to accept entries into the game’s 50-50 drawing which is used to help offset travel expenses for the team.
We went to a game between the Cotuit Kettleers and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. We literally sat on top of the home team’s dugout. We could hear the players talking. We saw players who were not yet tarnished by the riches of the big leagues. We saw the game of baseball the way it was meant to be played.
Our evening in Hyannis was a reminder that it can be important to get back to the basics. We allow so many things to come along and distract us from why and how we started doing what we’re doing – whether it’s work, school, church, or even family. It’s easy to be distracted by the next big thing. It’s not steroids or free agency, but we are often distracted by other things like non-stop activities, efforts to accumulate the most toys and gadgets, or a drive to climb higher on the corporate ladder. These things by themselves may not be bad, but I think we often lose sight of why we started a family or why we started working. I think it’s important to get back to the basics, so we can rediscover our love for “the game”.
Has the push for more taken away your love of “the game”?
What can you do today to bring back the love?
Keep Going
I took this picture on our Cape Cod vacation a couple of weeks ago. It’s a boardwalk that takes you out to the edge of the marsh from Grey’s Beach in Yarmouth Port, MA. I ran out to the end of the boardwalk three of the mornings we were there.
In the picture, it appears that the boardwalk goes on forever.
Some days, things can seem like this. We have a tough day at work. Our parenting doesn’t seem to be making any head way with our kids. Perhaps, we’re facing health issues that seem unbearable.
The Bible provides encouragement to keep going when we’re ready to give up. I often draw encouragement from these verses:
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
One of the last day’s that we were in Cape Cod, I took Leanne out to the end of the boardwalk to enjoy the walk and view together. The long walk was well worth it!
What are you facing today that seems like it could go on forever – that seems overwhelming or unbearable? What keeps you going?
You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks
Iso The Wonder Dog
This weekend, our family has been puppy sitting Boots. Boots is a seven month old german shepherd who is being trained to be a seeing eye dog to help a blind person. She’s being raised by a local family who is part of our 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Club. The Club meets once a month (tonight actually) to help puppy raisers with training tips and to conduct business to keep the club moving along. We are currently on the waiting list for a new puppy which should arrive sometime this fall.
Our “forever” dog, Iso, was part of the program. Iso is our seven-year black lab. We got him when he was eight weeks old, and we had him in our home until he was eighteen months old. From there, he traveled up to The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ where he was trained for eight months. We got to see his “final” exam, a town walk through the streets of Morristown, and he did great. So we were surprised when we received a phone call a couple of weeks later indicating that Iso was not going to pass the program. Apparently, he was too social – he was too distracted by other dogs.
Fast forward, five years. Iso lives with us, and he is a great dog. He’s very friendly. He doesn’t bark – which makes him a terrible watch dog. He doesn’t fetch – which makes him a terrible retriever. And he’s not real active – which makes him a terrible walking partner. But we love him. He is so loyal, and he loves our company.
This weekend has been a wake up call for Iso. Imagine a seven month old puppy invading your turf – running circles around you – stealing your attention – disrupting the life as you know it. Needless to say, Iso didn’t seem to happy about the whole thing when Boots walked in the door on Friday night. As the weekend has moved along, a friendship seems to be budding, and Boots seems to be teaching Iso a thing or two.
Iso has actually barked a few times in response to the pestering of Boots. We now know that Iso has a deep bark which could be scary if an intruder came to the door. Iso has also dabbled in the whole fetching thing. Boots loves to fetch her orange and blue ball. She carries it around with her all the time. I don’t think Iso understood this at first, but once he saw how much attention Boots received as she returned to the thrower with the ball, Iso started get it. He actually went after the ball a few times and beat out the younger Boots to retrieving the ball and bringing it back.
So…I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!
We say goodbye to boots today as her family returns from a weekend getaway. But we’ll remember Boots with fondness as we think of the new tricks she passed along to our forever dog. Plus, we’ll get to say hello to Boots at each of the monthly Puppy Club meetings – including tonight’s meeting.
I think we can learn from this story of Boots and Iso. Younger people have lots to teach “older” people. If you are young, speak up and share. (This is a good lesson for me as I am the youngest person on our management team at work.) If you are “older” (and we’re all older than someone), watch and listen to those who are younger. They can add value and new insights. They can also remind you that things can be fun and exciting. Great lessons from our weekend!
Do you have any pets? What tricks can they do?
Who are the young people you hang out with for new ideas and new energy?
God Can Use Our Junk
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Phil Olson. Phil is the pastor at Church on the Mall which meets at the Plymouth Meeting Mall. Phil was also a partner in ministry with my dad in Mt. Holly, NJ while my dad served at a church there. I happen to work ten minutes away from this mall, so it was convenient to hook-up for lunch. (I don’t know why we don’t do that more often.)
Phil and I caught up about friends from our NJ hometown. We shared about our families. And we prayed together. It was truly a blessing to be with this friend (even though he’s a big New York Mets fan).
Recently, Phil has been working as a chaplain at Cancer Treatment Centers of America one day a week. At first, this doesn’t sound all that strange, but Phil will tell you that this wasn’t something he had considered before this opportunity came along. Phil admitted that he didn’t have the training of most hospital chaplains. One thing that sets Phil apart from the other chaplains is that he is a cancer survivor. When patients learn this fact, they are more receptive to Phil. They relate to Phil, because he knows their pain. Obviously, Phil wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone – including himself, but he has realized that God can use his cancer along with his other “junk” to help others.
As our discussion continued, I was reminded that I have “junk” in my own life that allows me to relate to people on a different level. For example, the struggles that we have dealt with through my wife’s illness have given me (and our family) a deeper understanding and compassion for families that are impacted by mental illness. God can use my “junk” to help others and to draw me closer to Him.
As we concluded our discussion, Phil prayed for me using the following scripture from Isaiah 40:
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
I am thankful for Phil’s encouragement and the reminder that God can use our “junk” for His glory.
We’ve all got “junk” in our lives. How is God using you through your “junk”?