India Revisited (Or Rather Visiting Me)

Pastor Sami, one of the host pastors on my trip to India last year, came to visit me today! He has been in the states for the past month raising support for the many ministries he oversees in Mamallapuram, a fishing and resort town on the Indian Ocean in southern India.

Pastor Sami is a true visionary. He has started five churches, installing pastors in four of them while he pastors the "mother church". One of the churches he has started and installed a pastor in is in a Sri Lankan refugee camp in Chennai, where over 3000 people live crowded together on a three acre parcel of land in the center of the city.

He has an orphanage which currently provides a home for 44 children. He hosts 45 regional pastors every month to encourage, pray for, and teach the Bible to. He always gives them a meal and provides bus fare for those who needed it to travel to the monthly meeting.

He has plans for a Bible school, and is in the middle of a building project for the mother church, having razed the original church building in the center of town. The church building is also his home, so he and his family are temporarily living at the orphanage while construction continues (although it has come to a halt as funding has become scarce).

Pastor Sami and his wife have adopted two of the girls from the orphanage (he is pictured above with one of the girls, Lilly). He not only preaches locally, but regularly travels over ten hours by train to minister in the northern part of India. Needless to say, Pastor Sami is a busy man with a passion for ministry.

You can read more about Pastor Sami and my trip to India by going to the February, 2007 Blog Archive to the right.

Tomorrow Is Christmas

Tomorrow is Christmas. Nothing will change that. December 25th comes and goes every year at the same time. It's on the calendar. It's on the news. It's on our minds.

Tomorrow being Christmas means different things to different people. To some, it is a day or two off from work. To some it is a chance to see family and friends. To some it is the birthday celebration of the Savior.

So follow through with your plans. Travel or stay home. Give and receive gifts. Eat too much like the rest of us. But when Christmas is over, may I encourage you to start preparing now for how you will handle it next year. Not the gift giving or the travel. But rather how or if you are celebrating the birthday of the Savior. Because before you know it, it will be the next "tomorrow is Christmas".

A special thank you to all who have visited the link to my new Worship CD (to the right of this posting) and have made a purchase. If you are interested in purchasing a CD or two, click on the "Buy Now" button (PayPal) or e-mail me at bigcloudmusic@verizon.net.

My CD Release!

I feel funny about self-promotion, but I wanted people to know that I have released my instrumental worship CD titled I'm At Rest. The CD is comprised of some of my original worship music. My heart was to create an experience of resting in the presence of the Lord.

For a sample of the music, click on the "I'm At Rest" Worship CD link (to the right of this posting under Hear Brad's Original Music).

My pastor has publicly stated that, "Of all of the instrumental worship CDs that I have listened to, this is the finest that I have ever heard. Everyone should get a copy. I can leave the office stressed, but while listening to the music on this CD, by the time I get home I am stress-free and relaxed."

Someone once said that words can touch the mind, but music can touch the soul. My hope is that the melodies on this CD will touch your soul, encourage your spirit, and connect your heart with the Father's heart.

I'm at rest like a child in Your arms. I know peace, I fear nothing at all, when I'm safe within the shadow of Your wings and You sing over me.

The CD is available for $12 (plus $1 shipping). Click the PayPal link at the listen page, or contact me at bigcloudmusic@verizon.net to pay by check.

Thanks!

Hallothanksmas

I think there's been a cultural shift, a kind of repositioning of how things are perceived. An interesting thing has been happening over the last few years concerning Thanksgiving.

We already know that Christmas is no longer seen as the birthday of Jesus, but rather a giant commercial and economic opportunity for the consumer, the retailer, and the economy. Santa has replaced the manger. Frosty is the new Wise Man. Gold, frankincense and myrrh have been replaced by presents, vacations and gift cards. Essentially, it has become an incredible opportunity for money to change hands.

But recently, the "Christmas Season" (or rather the "buying season") has gradually expanded where it doesn't begin with the day after Thanksgiving, but now it includes Thanksgiving.

Yes, stores were open on Thanksgiving Day in the hopes that consumers would begin to spend their holiday dollars sooner, thus making sure that this will be a good year for business. "Black Friday" (the Friday following Thanksgiving where retailers hope to get into the black) expanded to include Thanksgiving Day (or should we go ahead and begin to call it Black Thursday to avoid the rush?).

Some major retailers required their employees to come in and work on Thanksgiving (did they pay them time-and-a-half?) so they could gather dollars sooner. And those who didn't open on Thursday opened early on Friday (most at 5:00 am, some at 4:00 am).

So when will it end? Will the gradual transformation of the "American Holiday" continue to expand and absorb all things sacred in its path?

Is Halloween next?

New Ideas

Think about this statement: Any real change comes from new ideas, rather than rehashed versions of old ones.

I guess there are arguments on both sides of this concept. But remember, we are talking about change, and not entertainment (as in re-makes of movies).

Have you used an "old" idea lately? Have you taken someone else's idea and improved on it? (No sense re-inventing the wheel, right?) Have you re-packaged something that has been used before? I think we all have done that from time to time. But again, we are talking about change.

"Are there any new ideas out there to be had?" you may be asking. Have they all been "used up"? And if I do get an original idea, can it be used to ensure lasting change?

I think that is the key right there. Am I seeking new ideas because I want to bring about change?

What kind of a change would you like to bring about? What would you like to see different? What would you like the world to look like after you are finished with it?

So we are back to the original statement: Any real change comes from new ideas, rather than rehashed versions of old ones. Once you know what you'd like to do, start being creative and do something original. Don't push the limits, rather move beyond them.

Remember that the Creator did that very thing when He made you. He looked at everything else He made up to that point, and then created something brand new. And that changed the world forever.

Sharing Ideas

Where do you get your ideas? What do you do with them? Do you hoard them or share them?

I stumbled on a site called whynot.net, which is an idea exchange. It offered ideas from "Better Brake Lights" to "Diet Restaurants". Plus, readers can comment on ideas and offer insights, suggestions and even arguments, just like a Blog.

I have found that when ideas are discussed (exchanged) with others, it usually stimulates more creative and critical thinking. Involving other thinkers into a conversation encourages depth, understanding and inspires a greater level of imagination (again, hence Blogging). But that's what I think.

What do you think?

Leaves...Finally!

It's finally beginning to happen: the leaves are changing color. Autumn is here! (Well, according to the calendar it has been here for a while - it's just finally beginning to look like it.) Last week the temperature hit the low 90's here in Maryland. We've had about a mouthful of rain since the middle of August and the dust on my car remains an inch thick no matter how often I wash it.

But, the leaves are finally changing color. The outward signs have not been supportive, so it hasn't felt like fall. But there they are now: red, gold and yellow. (Having spend the bulk of my years in Florida where leaves don't change color to follow the seasons, I still feel like a rookie when experiencing the colors of Autumn.)

I honestly hope I never lose the wonder of seeing leaves change color. I hope I never get bored with this annual event, taking it for granted like I do with many other things that I see as I pass by everyday.

I guess that's the key: wonder. When we see something spectacular for the first time we look in wonder. Some stand with their mouths open. Others gasp. I know of a few people who tend to fall on their knees and worship the Creator (maybe not such a bad choice). But all in all, I think it's about wonder.

So as you are looking at the leaves changing color this year (unless you live in Florida or similar climates), stop and wonder. And if you feel so inclined, fall on your knees and worship the Creator.

Creative Help?

Have you ever thought of how you can creatively help someone? I am not referring to painting a picture for a homeless person. What I am suggesting at is this: Some of us may be "artsy", but all of us are creative. We often use that creativity to benefit ourselves, those whom we know, those whom we want to impress, or those whom we want to make money off of.

But what about finding creative ways to help strangers. Or people we don't know who have a need. Again, I am not suggesting that we "create" something for them, but rather we help them in a way that takes them by surprise.

At this point, I am ready to rattle off a list of "you might try...", but I don't want to do that. Rather, I challenge you to start thinking! How can you meet a need? Other than putting a few dollars in someone's cup, what could you do to help?

Any ideas or suggestions?

Talk

How's this for finding true love on the internet:

The Australia Daily Telegraph reports that unhappily married couple Sana and Adnan Klaric secretly spent hours in an online chatroom pouring their hearts out to their respective cyber-lovers about their own marital troubles. The responses on the other end of the conversations carried the same angst of unhappy marriages.

"I was suddenly in love," said Sana, 27. "It was amazing. We seemed to be stuck in the same kind of miserable marriage. How right that turned out to be."

Little did the two know before they met face-to-face for a date that they were actually married to each other.

Unfortunately there is no happy ending for this couple. They are divorcing, accusing the other of infidelity.

How much better it could have been if they had only talked to each other (knowing it was their spouse). Maybe their dissatisfaction with their spouse could have been addressed in conversations and remedies for their troubled relationship could have been agreed upon. It appears that they didn't do much conversing with each other (that they were aware of anyway).

Talk. Talk to your spouse, your children, your friends, your boss, your co-workers. Ask questions. Give honest feedback. Work toward improving all of your relationships. And remember what your parents taught you: Don't talk to strangers.

My Responsibility

Ouch! I didn't realize it, but it has been a month since my last post. I got busy with 'life' and neglected my 'wider life'. No excuses though! We are all busy, and we all have responsibilities.

Which brings me to the concept of taking responsibility. All of us have things (relationships, assignments, expectations of others, etc.) that we are responsible for. Some things are required (stopping at red lights, paying our bills on time), and have consequences when we don't take responsibility. Other things are not so imminent, and we can "fudge" a bit (spending time with our children, studying, missing a day of exercise).

But we must remember that when we aren't diligent with our responsibilities, we eventually pay the price. My children become distant, my mind looses its edge, and the next day I run... I feel it!

Even with this Blog. If I go without regular posts, then those who might read the Blog will eventually lose interest because there is nothing fresh.

For that I take responsibility.

Therein lies another aspect of responsibility: owning-up when we fail. In our culture, it is popular to place the responsibility on others, to blame someone else. But true character dictates that when I fail, I admit that it was my mistake. I seek forgiveness and make restitution when necessary. In a sense I am taking responsibility for my irresponsibility.

So there you have it. I wasn't responsible for posting to my Blog on a regular basis. But, I didn't blame it on anything other than the fact that I didn't post on my Blog regularly. Simply put, I wasn't responsible, but now I am.

Angry Clouds

What do you see when you look at this picture? Do you see the mountains, or the water, or the clouds? Maybe you see the snow on the mountains, or maybe the ice in the water. I guess it all depends on our perspective.

I have a friend and colleague who says that everyone has their own version of reality. If we would think about that statement, I'm sure we would agree.

We normally see things through our own "perspective" or "filter. If we are seeking to see things from another's point of view, we try to see things from their perspective.

Sometimes we simply see things the way we want them to be.

When I look at the picture, I see angry clouds. Now you may not consider these clouds to be angry, but as I interpret this picture, they are angry. Does this make me right or wrong? Does this make me good or bad?

Often when we don't agree with another person's perspective on something, we judge them. We think they are wrong and we are right. What we must remember is that it is "their perspective". Not ours. Maybe we ought to try and see it from their perspective. Maybe we could use a little balance in our lives.

This could go a long way in help us relate to our spouses, our children, our friends and even strangers.

Angry clouds? Maybe not for you. But for me today, maybe.