Bloggers Delight

I am pretty new to blogging. I started the Charlie Report last Summer and I have 1093 views of my blogsight as of this post. So I am sure that my readership is very small. Big to me because you are reading this and that’s why I write. Since I don’t know who reads my blogs, (I have about 30 responses), I go by the stats sheet WordPress gives me.  Some months I have written a lot and this month is my slowest month, with only about five entries. If you are a regular reader, I’d like to ask that you simply reply below by simply saying something like, “regular reader,'” or “reply.”  Thanks for your help.

I enjoy writing. It helps me express myself and I enjoy stretching my mind to come up with creative expressions.  I’ve tried to theme my blog simply by labelling it “creating community.” I am a connector. I enjoy connecting with people and more importantly, to me, connecting Jesus Christ to people.

I am currently trying to help my church, Valley Christian Center, connect Christ to the community that we live in.

Last Sunday night several of us went door-to-door, inviting our neighbors to come to our church to hear the author of The Shack.  We got some favorable responses and some definite negative responses, but most important of all, was the fact that we simply let ourselves be known in our neighborhood. 

I am tired. It’s late. I need sleep. So have a good night and a good rest of the week and rest of the month of April.

Front door living

I’ve already posted a similar blog on this, but it keeps happening to our family. People are just outside our front door. Whether its the kid who wants my kids to join him at the bus stop, who knocks loudly and seriously wants to inquire, or the neighbors across the street who we just got introduced to last Friday. Their son rides his bike in circles around our little portion of the neighborhood.  Then there is our next door neighbor who just brought us some fresh tomatoes from the Dogwood Festival. He was given way more than he could use, so he decided to share. Its an ongoing exchange. We are making friends with him, investing time, listening to him as he gives us updates on his ailing mother, and recently himself, in exchange for ongoing invites to go to our church.

This morning I felt in my heart that he will some day show up at church. Pray for him. His name is Harold.  If we live going out our front door, we get to connect with many people. If we go into our garage, get in our car, open the garage door, we only get to wave to our neighbors. That’s how we lived in our old house. 

Front door living is a great way to meet people.

Living Like Only Jesus Matters

When I was a kid, the only thing I wanted to do was play.  I played with Tonka trucks, G.I. Joe army men, marbles, and eventually grew up a bit to ride a bike and shoot BB guns.  Not a care in the world. No bills to pay, no Walkman to isolate me from friends and family, no Gameboy, and really not much decisions on what I was going to eat at any particular meal or any time of the day. The food was provided for me by my hard working dad and my stay-at-home mom.

Since I grew up going to church since I was a kid, Jesus took on a persona that I sometimes wish I could go back to. It was only Him. I talked to Jesus like I talked to anyone, especially my imaginary friends. I lived like only Jesus mattered.

If we take ourselves away from the shopping, the working, the exercising, the family raising, the other things that consume our time, energy, and space, and live like only Jesus mattered, I am certain, life would be way better. To do that would mean we have to rely on Him, Jesus, for everything.  Trust becomes the huge factor. Could we do that? Could we even attempt to do that?  Could we live like we really only rely on Jesus Christ to make it in life?

The Bible say’s a lot about having utter dependance on God. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.” Matthew 6: 25-27

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5,6

Romans 5 tells us of the peace and joy we can have through relationship with Jesus Christ.

I challenge myself to totally trust God for everything and live like only Jesus matters and then watch how He leads my life to connect with others.

When That Voice Say’s Something

You know when it happens. You do something and “the voice,” your conscience, “something spoke to me,” say’s something to you and you have a moment to respond. Do you listen to the voice? Or do you ignore it, brush it off, or let the words sink in and then respond?  Well Thursday morning, “the voice,” spoke to me. I was putting things together while staying in a hotel in Spokane and felt compelled to take a moment to find “the word for today.” That “word” would be to simply open my Bible and find something compelling, awe-inspiring, challenging, life-changing, or simply “a Christian duty.”  I open my Bible and thumbed through it looking for something I underlined, highlighted or a word to jump out at me. I by-passed several of the above-mentioned as this particular Bible is full of highlights and underlines. I stopped at I Corinthians 9:27. I had previously underlined, “…I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”  The whole passage deals with running in a race and running to win.

I left my hotel room, went to work, and when I came back, I found the following note on my Bible, “I would like to say thanks 4-leavin your Book opened. I read the first 1/2 page. Thanks again. Enjoy, Sammy. I needed it.”

Sometimes we listen to the voice, the Holy Spirit, our conscience, or whatever you want to call it, and when we do, we get cool results.  Sometimes when we ignore it, we miss out on doing something great for someone else.  I want to be a vessel used by God, to help others grow, especially in relationships with God.

tips for connecting with people

1.  When shopping at Home Depot, wear orange. People will approach you thinking you work there.

2. Watch for your neighbor to take out his garbage or return it to their home, then do the same, at the same time. Makes for great conversation.

3.  Stand at the bus stop with your kids. Especially if there are other parents there. This was the regular routine when we lived in Bothell. Great opportunity to engage your neighbors and invite them to church.

4.  Take in a baseball game. Doesn’t matter if you are rooting for either team on the field. Sit behind home plate or nearby, talk to elderly dads, they love the conversation.

5.  If you have a dog, take him/her for a walk in your neighborhood.  People engage people with pets. Especially where I live. We just don’t happen to have a dog.

6.  Become a merchandiser. You meet all store management. Make sure they know your name.  You will get to meet some great people who know a  whole lot of more people. 

7.  Give good customer comments and make sure you leave your name, number and phone number.  Instant access for them to connect with you.

8.  Go to the local park and play hoops. Someone is going to want to shoot with you. We did this all the time in college. Still works today. 

9.  Attend school functions. Show yourself friendly.  Wait for results.

10.  Invite everyone you meet to Easter Sunday service, this Easter.

Heaven on my mind lately

With the economy being in the putz, I’ve thought about God, Heaven, going to Heaven, living in Heaven and some thoughts have been about who we’d see, what we’ll be doing in Heaven, and the awesome thoughts of living there forever.

I read this poem below on John Fischer’s website. He didn’t know the other, nor do I, but I liked it and wanted to share it with you. 

I was shocked, confused, bewildered As I entered Heaven’s door, Not by the beauty of it all, Nor the lights, or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp– The thieves, the liars, the sinners, The alcoholics, and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade Who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought Was rotting away in hell, Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, ‘What’s the deal? I would love to hear Your take. How’d all these sinners get up here? God must’ve made a mistake. “And why’s everyone so quiet, So somber – give me a clue.” “Hush, child,’ He said, “they’re all in shock. No one thought they’d be seeing you.”