Peaceful??? Hmmmm....

Many people have commented about the ridiculousness that is Pastor Terry Jones and Dove World Outreach Center and their plan to have a Qur'an burning on Saturday. I have nothing to add to what's already been said so well in that regard.

Can we please look at this from another angle for a moment?  I had this thought when reading this article.  For just a moment, let's put Pastor Jones's actions aside as terrible as they are, and focus on what took place in response to his plan.  While despicable, two wrongs don't make a right.  What does it say about a group of people that, upon the announcement of of a book burning, engage in violent threats and acts that have not only local police but the FBI, Interpol, U.S. State Department, General Petraeus, even the White House and the Secretary of Defense getting involved?  If some wacky cult-like preacher with a tiny little band of followers in Gainesville has the power to incite worldwide violence, what does this reveal about a "religion of peace?" 

For this to have the power to affect international travel?  To have every news agency in the world covering it?  To get the attention of the President of the United States?  To warrant a personal call from the Secretary of Defense?  Really?  Seriously??  As this article here states, how can such a tiny tail - an independent church with 50 followers - wag such a big dog?  

Terry Jones has a miniscule following and is truly seen as a freak.  He is not representative of Christians, however those responding to the threat of Qur'an burning must have significant representation as they evidently have the power to incite fear and affect international travel and command the attention of world leaders.

If a group burned or threatened to burn a truckload of Bibles we'd all think, "wow, that was stupid" but I doubt Christians would be killing anybody over it or even threatening it as much as we love the Word of God.  We'd just consider ourselves blessed for being persecuted for our faith, pray for the perpetrators,  buy twice as many Bibles, distribute them and keep right on going.  Local churches would just come together to raise money for more Bibles while a group of intercessors prayed over the project.

Now, we don't have to totally imagine this scenario because actually in 2009, the U.S. Military burned a huge shipment of Bibles that were being sent to Afghanistan by a church.  They did so because our government deemed it a a security risk due to Muslims getting angry about proselytizing.  So, when our government actually went through with destroying these Bibles what happened?  Did any Christian pastors or churches incite violence over this?  Of course not.

In the media frenzy over Terry Jones, has a deeper message been lost about the violent response to his actions?  The media have already shown clips of violent demonstrations that have already occurred overseas as a direct response to Jones' actions.  This article states that "...Muslims around the world called for Barack Obama's death at protests to denounce a US church's plans to burn the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of 9/11."  Seriously???  Some podunk preacher threatens to burn a book and you call for our president's death?  Mighty peaceful of ya.  Note, it did not say, "a few extremists called for..."    Our government was gearing up for the possible response to the event Saturday because they know the historical response to anything like this.  And, they see, what is currently happening as millions around the world have issued a call for violence in response.

In this news article, it is reported that  hundreds of angry protesters were in Afghanistan and Pakistan burning U.S. flags and chanting "Death to the Christians."  Here's another with a rather grim photo.  And another example.  It's not reported that these are fringe Islamic groups, but simply Muslims around the world who have been hurt by Pastor Jones actions.  But wait, wait...I thought this was a peaceful religion.

This recent article came out about Imam Rauf stating the our national security depends on whether the mosque is built at Ground Zero.  Seriously?  Have you ever heard of something so manipulative?  A threat of violence if plans to build this mosque are not carried out? 

How much longer must we hear politically correct pundits refer to a religion of peace when it's clear that any time it is threatened the government gears up to defend against a violent backlash that could affect the safety of millions.   

Courageous Parenting

Right now we're doing a new series in Fusion on Wednesday nights at Celebration called Courageous Parenting.  I'm teaching the first three weeks and my husband will team up with me on the final Wednesday night of this month.  I'm always passionate about the Word God gives me to bring, and perhaps no topic stirs a passion as talking about raising the next generation.  

Many people today feel helpless and afraid when parenting their children. Some are afraid of what THEY HAVE BIRTHED!  Imagine!!!  This is an easy trap to fall into and we must resist fear. Some have been brainwashed into believing:

• Kids will do what kids want to do - regardless.
• There's nothing I can do to control or change my kid's behavior.
• Because my child has a free will, what I do really doesn't matter at the end of the day.
• My teen is getting ready to turn 18  -- it's time to back off.

There are parents who have not given up on parenting in the sense of leaving or giving their children away.  However, for all intents and purposes they have given up because although they live in the same home they do not actually parent their children.  A child left to fend for themselves brings nothing but destruction.  Proverbs 29:15 says, "A child left to himself brings his mother to shame."   Leaving our children to figure out life on their own is one of the worst things we can do.  It doesn't all just pan out in the end.


If you live in Tampa, I invite you to join us for this series.  If you don't live here, you can always take advantage of it by podcast.  

Milestone

I'm so excited to have reached a milestone as a career coach this week.  My boss Kathryn called with the news last night that at the management meeting yesterday (this meeting includes the president, chief operating officer, both regional managers, national training manager and technology director) they officially voted to make me a senior coach.  This is something I've been working on the last few months, fulfilling the qualifications, but after you've done all that they have to discuss it as a team, and take a vote at their meeting about whether to grant this certification or not.  I am the first person to become a senior coach at NextJob, with the standards they have set forth for coach certifications. 

I couldn't post anything here or on my facebook until they officially sent out a letter to all of the employees at NextJob.  The letter/e-mail has now been sent.  Here's a copy of it:

Please join me in congratulating our newest, and first to complete the requirements for NextJob Senior Certified Coach...Deanna Shrodes!


Deanna set a goal to complete the requirements for Senior Certified Coach almost as soon as the Certification Program was unveiled.  She has since been diligent to take all the training to heart and apply what she has learned.  She has been rewarded with a set of coaching skills that in many areas are at a master coach level.  


Her commitment to NextJob, the company, the mission and vision is above question.  She goes "above and beyond" providing her job seekers with 100% customer service, ensuring that they have exactly what they need to be successful.  Deanna has truly earned this recognition!  

Thank you, Deanna, for your passion, your heart and your spirit...nothing's gonna stop you now!!


Smiles,
Kathy

Kathy Malone, ACC
Career Coach & National Training Manager

Thank you for celebrating this milestone with me!  After the call came last night my family took me to Carrabbas to celebrate.  (My favorite place to eat besides home.)  I am blessed and so thankful to those who have invested in me to help me get to the next level.  Thank you to to my amazing boss, Kathryn Kemp, national training manager Kathy Malone, and the one who brought me to NextJob in the first place...Tina Blount.  You all are amazing.

So here's a serious question I have

When you read marriage improvement books they go into great detail as to how a man needs to be treated, how a woman needs to be treated and basically, what each marriage partner needs to be healthy.  I will agree that if you follow the advice of a great majority of these books it will improve your marriage.  But my question today is not about marriage.  My question is regarding something else in light of what the marriage books have uncovered.

In light of what all marriage books tell us about the emotional needs of men and women, how does this affect the other areas of our lives outside of marriage?

The truth is, according to all the marriage books, both men and women are extremely needy in several different ways.  While a marriage partner hopefully cares enough about their marriage to keep those things in mind, "the world at large" doesn't care.   I can already hear the comment stream now... "yes, and that's why it's so important that marriage partners meet the needs because no one else will..."  I agree with that.  But it's not my point.

Here is my point.  The world at large could care less about how you tick and finding out your love language.  Your spouse hopefully cares, and your Momma might care, but I would venture to say that your boss doesn't care, your co-workers don't care,  the teller at the bank doesn't care, the cashier at Walmart doesn't care, your broker doesn't care, your neighbor doesn't care, your kid's teacher doesn't care.  They don't care whether you need love or respect, whether you are a waffle or spaghetti, whether you are from Mars or Venus.  They just want you to do what you are supposed to do, and get on with it without whining.

So my question is -- since we are all  fragile according to the research, and the world at large doesn't care -- how does your average person make it on their jobs or in other avenues of life when they don't get what they need or want a great majority of the time?

I asked my husband this question and he simply said:  "they don't make it."

Huh??

Larry says most people struggle and this is why HR departments exist and their people clean up messes every single day...because people can't handle it.

What do you think?

Terrific dish to take for your Labor Day gathering!

Quick!  Do you need something to take with you to a party today?  Might want to follow my lead and take this...you and your guests will LOVE it!!  You might even have all the ingredients in your pantry and fridge.

Today we're going to our friends, the Currie's for a Labor Day dinner party.  We always look forward to times like this and usually when we get together with them it's a collaborative effort of everyone in attendance bringing a dish.  Today I've chosen to bring my Mashed Potato Casserole which is an amazing recipe that I got from my friend, Rhonda Flint.  She gave me this recipe many years ago and I've been bringing it to events ever since. It's not exactly friendly to your waistline but for special occasions now and then, it's just the ticket!

Mashed Potato Casserole

5 lb. bag potatoes

1 stick of melted butter

8 oz. Sour cream

8 oz. Cream Cheese

8 oz. Cheddar Cheese

1 lb. Of Cooked and Crumbled Bacon

1 Med-Large Onion, chopped

Cook and mash potatoes with stick of butter.  Add sour cream and cream cheese.  Turn into a buttered 9 x 13 pan.  Top with the cheddar cheese, cooked/crumbled bacon, and onions.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.   

I'm going to be exhausted today but it's all good!!!

What a day it's going to be at Celebration Church today!  It's Labor Day weekend and I'm going to be laboring, for sure.  I know it's going to be a great Sunday despite the holiday and people being away, because God's going to be there, doing stuff! 

There is no question I'm going to come home tired but I'm sure it'll be a great exhaustion.  After leaving for worship rehearsal at 7:30 am, I'll conduct practice, teach my class at 9:30 and then preach at 10:30.  I wasn't going to be preaching this week but then Larry felt the church needed to hear my teaching on the subject of work.  It's labor day and I'm going to teach a message entitled, "Are you working hard, or hardly working?"  Larry had a message for today but he's feeling that it's meant for next Sunday so that's what we'll do.

This morning in my class I'm teaching about the fight for your faith.  This is an important topic I'm passionate about.  Then again I rarely speak about things I'm not passionate about.  LOL

 

A Sunday afternoon nap is a definite order today after I stand and lead/speak for five or six hours.  It's all good...there is no greater joy than to fulfill your purpose...laboring for the One who has called you.

Lessons from Kathryn: Atmosphere is everything

It's been a while since I've blogged on "lessons from Kathryn" (if you want to read all that I've posted on them so far, just click the link, "Lessons from Kathryn" down at the bottom right under "labels.")  Kathryn Kemp is my boss at NextJob and has become one of my dearest friends as well.  I've learned so much from her, as a coach, and just in life in general.  

One of the recent lessons I've been learning from her is about the way she is so careful about the atmosphere around her.  Now, I really thought I knew this principle.  But like anything else in life, there's always more to learn.  

The Lord has also used Kathryn to teach me a lot in the last year and nine months.  Kathryn is a very gentle soul, but don't let that fool you.  The woman's got boundaries, and if you ever cross them you will find out real quick that you've crossed them.  It doesn't come in the form of a big announcement.  There is no fanfare, she just quietly enforces her personal boundaries.  One day out of curiousity I asked her if she saw what a mutual acquaintance had posted on their facebook.  "Oh no," she gently replied, "I deleted them a while back."  "Oh, really?" I said.  "May I ask why?"  Devoid of any malice, she said:  "I just don't need that negative energy in my life."  And that was simply all.  I noticed that none of the comments were made to her, they were just around her but still -- she doesn't even maintain a presence where they are in existence, because she values herself too much to sit in the midst of something that's not good for her.  Notice I didn't say "good enough for her".  Kathryn's not a snob, she just knows how to manage herself -- something I used to be terrible at, and still have quite a ways to go. 

Now, Kathryn is not a Christian and I do not say this to judge her, but to make a point. (By the way, she will be totally cool with me writing this, and will probably get a huge kick out of it when she reads it on her day off at 5 am. LOL)  I have been fascinated with Kathryn's response to "negative energy" as she puts it, because she's not responding for biblical reasons, for she's not a believer.  She's responding in the way she does for pure health reasons.  


Lately I've gotten very serious again about protecting my physical  health and I've been watching every bite that goes into my mouth and biking every single day but Sunday.   I understand the need for spiritual and physical health, as many of you do.   But what about emotional health?   

Kathryn watches over her emotional health like many of us concern ourselves with weight watcher points, or exercise.  She knows her quotient.  She knows her limits.  She watches carefully what goes in and what goes out.  This lady has an emotional budget, and she's stickin' to it.  If a conversation becomes toxic, she removes herself quietly.

After being exposed to Kathryn's leadership, I realized that some changes are in order in my life and I'm surprised at just how positively they affect my ministry.   Although not a believer, she has actually helped me learn how to better protect the anointing upon my life, especially when I've got things like Sunday morning coming up.  (It comes once a week, ya know, without fail!  lol)

I am taking baby steps.   There are times I've had to change my atmosphere after I've already entered a conversation.  The preferable more mature option is to not ever enter that conversation in the first place.  (I'm still maturing...lots.)  I've become best friends with the "hide" button.  :)  Kathryn deletes, I prefer to just hide.  It creates less drama.

Sometimes drama happens anyway.  Regarding people who react that's probably lesson #6,425 I need to learn from Kathryn:  "Care less about drama that ensues from your decisions you make for your own personal health."  ::grin::  If I  know anything about her, if somebody created drama over her removing herself  [translation:  managing her emotional health ] she would probably just forget about it in five minutes and go on to eat a piece of chocolate and watch some "bad tv" as she calls it.  ::giggle::  


Take a lesson from Kathryn Kemp, and know that sometimes it's just best to disappear.

More shout outs, and my own "Still"

On this Fun Friday, I'd like to do some more shout outs to people who are out there saying things that do my heart good.

First, here's someone I think a lot of, Dr. Carolyn Tennant, and her article,  Don't Do Anything Stupid!, which is a great word to the wise for ministers. 

Then there's this post that warmed my heart by Pastor Lisa called "Still".  Why don't you read her list and make your own "Still" list?  In fact, that's what I'm going to end this post with...

Still happily serving Jesus!

Still passionate about serving His people, despite many dangers, toils and snares, His grace has been sufficient!


Still married, and heading toward year 24, more grateful than ever for the solid, faithful, Godly man I have.

Still a worshipper at the core.

Still love my man!  

Still convinced it's possible to raise pure children who walk in God's ways!

Still believe the same gospel I've been preaching for 23 years, even STRONGER today than I did before!

Still standing no matter what the devil has ever tried...

Still laughing...lots!!!

Still battling the bulge, but committed to triumph!  Victory is just a matter of time!

Still love sunsets!

Still standing on the full counsel of God's Word.

Still believe in the power of prayer.

Still passionate about a demonstration of the spirit's power,  and healing!  C'mon Jesus!

Still learning.

Still writing.  Will NEVER stop.  N-E-V-E-R.  

Still moving forward.

Still love riding my bike and rollerskating.

Still loving swinging on the swings.

Still love my dogs with all my heart though they chew on my things.

Still frustrated by disorganization, laziness and entitlement whenever and wherever I encounter it.

Still think about Africa every day and pray for my loved ones there.  

Still hoping for another Mustang someday but even if I don't get one it's all good because everything that means anything to me is already in heaven, or is something I can take there (family/friends who know Him).

Developing a higher perspective in adversity

Last night I taught at Celebration on finding a higher perspective in adversity.   How many people give up before even giving God an opportunity to do a miracle?

Larry always says all that is necessary for a miracle is a need.  A good pastor friend of ours, Keith Jones, always says everybody wants a miracle, but nobody wants to need one!  So true.

Problems and trials are really just dressed up opportunities for an amazing testimony.  I was thinking about this the other day and the majority of sermon illustrations I share are about miracles that were once problems in my life -- some that I thought would swallow me up!  Thankfully as I clung to Jesus, my rock, He was there to rebuke the devourer and grant the miracle so needed.

Last night to get across this message I showed the following video and it was very inspiring.  This man has a higher perspective.  His problems haven't destroyed him -- he's made room for a miracle.  I would say he's a "walking miracle" but I can't really do that because this guy has no arms or legs!  Which makes him...even more amazing! 

What would I want if it were me?

The past few days I've been ...

Following up from Sunday...
Getting about 10 church projects done...some small, some larger...
Doing engagements for NextJob...
Keeping things going at home... (ya know, food, basic cleaning, dog care, yada yada)
Working on special things in honor of my friend who passed away...

Last night I was up late writing letters to people  -- some I know, and many more that  I don't, informing them about Deb's page and what we're doing for her.  I have a very early morning appointment and needed sleep but I kept telling myself, "one more letter...just one more" and then I'll sleep.  [sigh]  I am feeling driven because I think, "what would I want if this had happened to me?"  I would want someone to tell my friends, someone to care for my children, someone to verbalize what was important to me...someone to pass on the message that I tried to share while on earth.  Deb shared so many wonderful insights with the world, and I want to make sure people don't forget them!  Her life counts for so much but if people don't know where to find her writings, or her blog, or her page...they won't be blessed by it.  I feel responsible to do something.  And it's not a "burden", in fact as busy as I am, when I'm writing these letters or posting her blog, it's cathartic for my emotions.  In a helpless situation, I feel like I'm "doing something" albeit small.   

Pastor Lisa and I are also getting our heads together about a possible memorial service for her in the USA.  We are considering doing this at the next Unstoppable Conference.  So, those of you who are part of the Pastoring Partners Network, message me about your thoughts on that.  Thanks!

Yesterday I spoke with Deb's daughter Jenni-lee, and found out more details, also prayed for Jenni-lee and the family and expressed our love and care.  Knowing details more doesn't make it easier...it makes it harder in many ways.  There's the frustration of "not knowing" and then when some of the blanks are filled in you think, "mmmkay, that doesn't really make me feel any better either..."  Pastor Lisa and I are dealing with anger, but that's to be expected at this stage. 

My way of dealing with frustration right now is doing for someone else what I'd want done for me.  And really, that's only biblical.  Do unto others...