Thursday, June 6, 2019

Finding your place to put your gifts & strengths to work, making a difference for eternity


"...Embodying the love of Jesus Christ in the city and the world."  A good vision or mission statement!

The Journey of Life:  To Be God's people..."Embodying the love of Jesus Christ in the city and the world"!

How can one do that?

Start with prayer!




 "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."-Albert Schweitzer
 
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 

 If we truly are Jesus's hands and feet in the world...how can we be good stewards and invest our lives for His glory?  So we can truly make a difference in the world!

●  When searching for Nonprofits to invest in...either as a volunteer or as an investor, what should I be looking for and why?
 
Start with your church! Look at your churches' website. What is their Mission statement and Vision for your city and the world?

●  It should jump out at you!  And then a clear statement as to how you can serve with them to help fulfill the Lord's vision both for your city and the world! Simple! 

Maybe even a few short "Serving descriptions" with a 3 minute video of a volunteer telling what they do?


What is your PASSION? 


This is the most important item to consider. Need some help in clarifying your passion?

●  Now you need to know your Strengths!  Strengthsfinder 2.0. 

The $19.99 version is great to use. It gives you your top 5 "Strengths" of the 35 "Strengths."
You get a beautiful 16 page printout of your "Strengths" and how to use them. 

  If you still aren't convinced to do the "Strengthsfinder 2.0" Assessment...contact me and I will send you my 16 page printout. Just a sample of what you would receive. 


Set up a visit with your church Volunteer Coordinator, or your favorite non profit.
Be sure to bring along your Strengths" printout to show them and ask how you can use your "Passion" and "Strengths" in advancing their Mission and Vision! Simple!

Do they have a plan to integrate your Passion, Gifts and Strengths into their ministry and outreach?  Don't get discouraged. This may be something new to them. Set up another meeting.
Are they interested in seeing how your "Strengths" can be a vital part of them fulfilling God's vision and mission with you partnering with them or are they just looking to fill an empty position? Has anyone in their organization taken the assessment?   Maybe you spoke with the wrong person? May be time to move on...

Don't give up on your church!  Send them a link to this post! 

What one church is doing helping people assess their S.H.A.P.E

Your Spiritual gifts, Heart or Passion, Abilities, Personality and Experiences.
You can take an assessment and they will get back to you with possible places to use your S.H.A.P.E. It's a good assessment, but they don't look at your "Strengths".

Would love to hear your experience! Connect with me on Linkedin or Twitter. 

Meeting for coffee to further discuss your opportunities! 

This Blog is searchable...by Keyword.  Try Strengths, Ministry, Calling, Volunteering, Mission,Vision, Faith, S.H.A.P.E, Passion, Boomer, Eastbrook...to see previous posts going back 8 years


   
●  With the thousands of non profits out there...how can I evaluate them?

●  With our instant access to information on the internet, we are probably already searching and can easily get confused. What are we really looking for and why?

●  Even if we don't know it...we are looking for an organization that aligns with our passion...our desires. We all want to make a difference in the world, don't we? 

● The best way is to start as a volunteer with an organization if possible.

 ●  So start by looking at their website!

●  What you want to find immediately when looking at their website:

 1. Mission Statement

2.  Vision Statement or their strategy for reaching their mission.

A great place to start to volunteer is in your own neighborhood...and you set the schedule!


●  This is what I am telling charities that they need on their website!
The Basic info you need on your site! 

●  But what are donors really looking for?

●  You already had some idea of who you wanted to donate to!


 ●   It's all about Passion and Relationships!  What am I passionate about? A Clue

 ●   What is Passion?  "..passion is morally neutral. It is simply a strong feeling or deep longing  for something." ..."Passion is the God-given ability to feel so deeply about something that it causes us to move toward the object of desire. This passion stems from an urge given by God-a burden, an emotional response to a need or opportunity He wants us to move toward. It's not a feeling that we experience and then lose easily. It's persistent and powerful. We can't ignore it."  Discover Your Destiny by Bill & Kathy Peel.

"The thing is to understand myself, to see what God wishes me to do...to find the idea for which I can live and die"-Soren Kierkegaard
 
 "The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” —William James

"...Embodying the love of Jesus Christ in the city and the world."  A good vision or mission statement!

●  So, what is your passion? 

●  We must have clarity about the Vision and Mission of an organization. If I am looking for a charity that I can volunteer with, I look for people I respect who are practical-minded. I want to be sure it's the sort of project that I can bring something of value to, and in which I'm being involved in a meaningful way. So I always ask myself: Is it a mission I believe in? Do I believe in the people who are in it? and does it use my talents and gifts in a way that engage me?"

●  So one of the best ways to evaluate a charity is to volunteer with them...if they are in your area or have a local chapter...like The American Red Cross or The Salvation Army...just two examples!  They are looking for volunteers! They have FREE training, both online and classroom . ●  No matter what your passion, gifts, abilities, past experience, personality etc. are, each of these organizations has a place for you!  You just have to have patience and talk to people at the organization...and start getting connected. The same for any organization.  These are just two International organizations that have local chapters around the country within easy driving distance. Obviously, there are probably other similar organizations that have local chapters. 


●  When contacting an organization...consider calling and talking to Communications  Director or Volunteer Director.  But do your research on their website first!

●  This is what you want to immediately see and clearly understand!

 1. Vision Statement

2.  Mission Statement

3.  Their Strategy for reaching their Mission


4.  It's also great if they have some testimonies from reciepients of their ministry! 


●  There's a lot of noise going on in the world. We need to listen to God speaking to us and that it is God that is speaking.

●   When I stand before Jesus one day, I want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant". Isn't that what you want to hear?
So what are we asking ourselves as we view their website and consider if we should invest in their cause?
So what is God calling me to do?
We all know there is no I in TEAM.
What is God doing in the world through this organization?

●  Can I be a part of their TEAM by donating to Our cause?  As a volunteer and or investor. Yes, it's our cause!

●  If we are already volunteering with an organization...do we feel a part of the TEAM?
How?
How do they communicate with you?
Newsletter?
Phone call for funds?
Phone call to see how you are doing and if you would like prayer?
If you are on social media, do you promote your favorite organization? Tweets and Retweets.
Status Updates on Linkedin. Does organization acknowledge your efforts? 

Have I prayed about how I might be a good steward and use God's funds to further His cause through this organization?

●  Do I need more help in evaluating this organization?

●  How To Make Wise Choices When Investing Your Funds In A Charity! 


●  Where Would You Like to Volunteer?

 

●   If you have questions about the non profits mission and if they are TRUE to the founders original mission, Is The Organization You Want to Volunteer With, True To Their Mission? and why it is important!

 

●   Has your favorite non profit drifted away from it's original vision and Mission?   A good read on this subject of "Mission Drift"

 

Finding peace with God

  I welcome your thoughtful insights. Richard

N

Sunday, June 2, 2019

A few thoughts, ideas, and beliefs on Neighboring

Proclaim and embody the love of Jesus Christ in the City and the World...starting in your neighborhood. 

Who is my neighbor? God has a plan! 

 

Filling in the spots. 37 more!

 

 

 As a friend at church, Bill, recently said, "Lettuce Pray"... 

 

A few lettuce plants for future "distribution"! To our "neighbors"!


Alittle too shady even for lettuce!

Will have to find some new locations for these plants!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found a new location! Holy Grounds Coffeehouse at Eastbrook Church. 

Moved majority of lettuce plants there.

Will harvest for our Food Pantry clients end of June or beginning of July. 

 

Transplanted in bed. Protected with chicken wire to prevent rabbits having a feast!


  



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Also put a container at our pool. 100% Sun 


At poolside

 

Poolside: Lots of Sun!


Sunday, June 16th.

 



  Thanks Pastor Matt for the "neighborly" words of life last weekend. Enough for everyone! 

 The lettuce! Supply & Distribution. 

 

 100 Ways To Engage Your Neighborhood and become friends with your neighbors

This is a series on neighboring, building off the idea that love for God overflows into love for neighbor, as illustrated by Jesus’ teaching on the greatest commandment, and expanded by the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this series we will explore ways in which we can live as neighbors practically with those right around us.

 

Some practical ideas on doing a "Prayer Walk Around Your Neighborhood." 

 

Friday, March 29, 2019

Pansies Unlimited

 

The individual beautiful pansy plants grew well in the field where they were planted for the allotted time they were there. They were seeded in the field for a purpose...The  next year they were individually dug up, put in containers and sold to people who then transplanted them to their gardens to be viewed.





The picture above was taken in early to late October.


 

 My family started to grow pansies around 1948. Around 2 acres!

 
Seeded in the field beginning  of July-July 15, the hottest time of summer.

 

 Pansies are bi annuals.

Around Thanksgiving time when the ground was frozen, they were covered with marsh hay.

But before this...all the flowers were hand picked off and discarded. A lot of work! 


"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8
 
In spring as soon as the snow melted and it was dry enough..late March.., we uncovered them.


They started to bloom again in early May and we dug each plant and put 12 in a wooden flat or 6 plants in a 2 quart basket and 5 of these baskets in a wooden crate and sold to Kohls and Sentry food stores. This was in the mid 60s to late 70's. They purchased all we had. They were also the two top food store chains in Milwaukee at the time. Both food stores now out of business. 
Herb Kohl decided to go into real estate and politics and sold the family business.






We could not supply enough to Sentry Food stores at the time and a neighbor got into the business and packaged the same with lessor quality product and also sold to Sentry. I put labels on our crates so the individual stores could ask for our pansies!  Neighbor went out of business soon after that.



We also sold to Winkies in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, a local 5 and 10 cent store. They had several stores at the time. They are still in business with the store in Whitefish Bay.  

A few pictures of field grown pansies...from our farm many years ago.

 

  These pictures were taken in early spring...Mid May-end of May.Time: Between 1954 and 1964 (Stopped growing pansies in 1964 and concentrated on Lettuce...selling also to Kohls and Sentry. 

 

Link to our Lettuce business at end of this post! 

 

T









This picture was taken in fall...probably mid October.














 

















Pansy culture booklets from Steele's Pansy gardens, Inc. Portland, Oregon.
   (no longer in business).                             Copyright 1958


























Original post of June 13, 2016


Greenhouse grown pansy

 

 

What we did after we stopped growing Pansies!

 

  "God has created each of us with a unique contribution to make in our world and our times. No other person has our same abilities, motivations, network of friends and relationships, perspectives, ideas, or experiences. When we, like misplaced puzzle pieces, fail to show up, the overall picture is diminished."   Richard Stearns: President of World Vision U.S.

Quote from his book: The Hole in our Gospel 

We are Jesus's hands and feet in the world.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

A few thoughts on Forgiveness

Relections on "The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant: Matthew 18:21-35

My notes for a teaching at a local men's group.


Some questions we may want to ask ourselves about “Forgiveness” or just some
 thoughts for further Reflection! 

At HOME…Alone!.

1.    Have you  had good or bad experiences with forgiveness?

2.    Are you in the habit of forgiving people for ways in which they  have hurt you?

3.    Have others forgiven you for the ways you have hurt them?

4.    Do you recall any particular experiences of receiving God’s forgiveness?

5.    Who are the people in your life that you need to forgive?

6.    How do you see the effects of unforgiveness in your life?

7.    What are you fears about forgiving certain people?

8.    Do we have a list in our minds of people who have wronged us, mistreated us, hurt us or mistreated us? 

9.    Sometimes there is no “list”, but a undercurrent or “bitterness” in our lives…like a low grade fever, 100 degrees, not 103. Just an uneasy feeling that can poison our relationships….that eventually can erupt into some terrible actions….”As we think in our heart…so are we.”

10. Sometimes we are like a frog in the water…increasing the temp…and we don’t know what’s happening…we know what happened to the frog!

11.On our way to church…spouse, kids in car…

12.Matt: 18 is all about relationships…among brothers…and how to deal with sin. 

13.Then Peter asks How many times to forgive? 

14.Especially about his “brother”  Present relationship.

15.All about relationships.

16.All about communication

17.All about forgiveness.

18.Then JOY, Circles.

19.Eisenhower and his method. Crumpled paper in wastebasket.

20.He then forgot, but did he.

21.We can do the same.

22.How big is our wastebasket?

23.Are we really forgiving, or just forgetting for the moment…and the wastebasket get fuller and fuller. …Then we can get a paper shredder…smaller pieces…over a lifetime….what is happening?

24.Our families, churches.

25.Forgiveness. Seven times or seventy x seven….It’s really unlimited forgiveness.

26.We are to overflow with forgiveness.

27.The reason I forgive is because of the Lord’s forgiving me, not because of the person who hurt me!

28.It is impossible to receive forgiveness from God and NOT give it to another. 

29.An unforgiving spirit. Do we have one and maybe don’t even know it?

30.S.I McMillen in his book None of These Diseases, says,
"The moment I start hating a man I become his slave. He even controls my thoughts, I can’t escape his tyrannical grasp on my minds. When the waiter serves me steak it might as well be stale bread and water. The man I hate will not permit me to enjoy it.” Obviously as Christian men, we don’t or won’t admit that we hate someone.  What is hate?

31.Dislike or….?

32.Some bottom line thoughts.

33.The source of forgiveness is Gods forgiveness.

34.Until we see ourselves as truly and deeply sinful, we will see nothing else clearly.   Wow!

35.The refusal to forgive is costly. 

36.What did your sin do to God?

37.Think about it!

38.Not a once and for all event. 

39.Need to forgive daily. 

40.The secret of forgiveness is grace.

41.Grace received means grace given.

42.“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph 4:32

43.Forgiveness is the great evidence that we have become new creatures in Christ and that the Spirit of Christ lives within us. 

44.The cross is where we receive forgiveness and where we learn to forgive. 

45.Who do we need to bring to the cross,? Spouse, parent, child, friend, neighbor, pastor, one of the men here?