What is kindness? It's compassion to it's fullest extent. Kindness is not thought very highly of in our culture, but is respected. A random act of kindness never goes unnoticed.
Kindness benefits everyone, bringing joy to the giver and peace to the receiver, and also facilitates respect from all who notice.
Always choose kindness, you'll be rewarded for it!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Have you noticed how angry people seem to be lately? I sat in on a group discussion last week on anger and it's all around us. The irate motorist that gives the "single gun" salute to surrounding motorists seemingly for no reason? Did they get into the car planning to be angry? Likely it's not the case. It has builded up inside for some time. Or the rowdy sports fan who constantly screams obsenities from the stands at referees and players out on the field? Likely that individual has been seething for some time, maybe weeks or months, and has an excuse to vent some of that pent-up rage. Or the recently laid-off construction worker who is planning retaliation against his now-former boss. Well, maybe he has a little more of a reason to be angry.
Why have we become so angry? Is it jealousy? With all the political hype going on now, maybe that has something to do with it too. Someone will always not be happy following a presidential election.
I am not immune to anger issues either. And yes, I still get upset from time to time. One of my ways is that I don't watch a lot of evening television, or much TV at all for that matter, and usually spend my downtime engrossed in a book. I do watch news on and off, but I don't become obsessed with it.
Last week I began delivering food items to shut-in clients from Peoples Resource center food pantry in Wheaton. All of the clients I've visited so far are very grateful to receive some food, and some attention. Just think, they may not talk to another soul the rest of the day.
When you help out someone a little less fortunate, it washes the anger away. When you spread kindness randomly, someone will always take notice.
Let's spread some random kindness this week
Why have we become so angry? Is it jealousy? With all the political hype going on now, maybe that has something to do with it too. Someone will always not be happy following a presidential election.
I am not immune to anger issues either. And yes, I still get upset from time to time. One of my ways is that I don't watch a lot of evening television, or much TV at all for that matter, and usually spend my downtime engrossed in a book. I do watch news on and off, but I don't become obsessed with it.
Last week I began delivering food items to shut-in clients from Peoples Resource center food pantry in Wheaton. All of the clients I've visited so far are very grateful to receive some food, and some attention. Just think, they may not talk to another soul the rest of the day.
When you help out someone a little less fortunate, it washes the anger away. When you spread kindness randomly, someone will always take notice.
Let's spread some random kindness this week
Friday, September 21, 2012
Yesterday I heard from World Orphans that they have postponed their international trips until 2013, including my planned trip with them to South Africa in December. It's good news both ways, as now I can concentrate on local ministry, and international kindness-spreading in 2013.
Beginning next week I'll begin doing home visits to clients of the Peoples Resource Center food pantry in Wheaton, bringing them food items to those who are shut-in, or have no transport. I've heard many of them are elderly (and very lonely) and just waiting for a kind soul to pay any attention to them. They feel the world is passing them by, leaving them in the dust, while on their way in the constant pursuit of more.
I'm enjoying attending at Wheaton Bible Church, and am slowly getting plugged in to a community there, For the past couple years I thought of myself as a wayward pilgrim, a minimalist, someone content with what I have, which is a lot compared to many impoverished villagers in the Third World. Now I feel like a part of a community once again.
This Sunday I'll again head to Willow Creek's downtown Chicago campus. Just can't get enough, or get away from there. Will still plan to attend there once a month.
Sometime in mid-late October I'll join WBC's Hunger Team, their version of Meals on Wheels. It will be similar to what I'll be doing with Peoples Resource.
Remember to choose kindness!
Beginning next week I'll begin doing home visits to clients of the Peoples Resource Center food pantry in Wheaton, bringing them food items to those who are shut-in, or have no transport. I've heard many of them are elderly (and very lonely) and just waiting for a kind soul to pay any attention to them. They feel the world is passing them by, leaving them in the dust, while on their way in the constant pursuit of more.
I'm enjoying attending at Wheaton Bible Church, and am slowly getting plugged in to a community there, For the past couple years I thought of myself as a wayward pilgrim, a minimalist, someone content with what I have, which is a lot compared to many impoverished villagers in the Third World. Now I feel like a part of a community once again.
This Sunday I'll again head to Willow Creek's downtown Chicago campus. Just can't get enough, or get away from there. Will still plan to attend there once a month.
Sometime in mid-late October I'll join WBC's Hunger Team, their version of Meals on Wheels. It will be similar to what I'll be doing with Peoples Resource.
Remember to choose kindness!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Last weekend, tropical storm Isaac formed in the Atlantic, roared through the Caribbean Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola (including Haiti, dumping tremendous rains and caused mudslides) and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico. Isaac ate some Wheaties and became a hurricane just prior to slamming into the New Orleans area late Tuesday night. It wreaked havoc along the Gulf Coast for a few days, drenching the area with rain and even spun up a few tornadoes. Now, on September 1 at 11:33AM CDT, Isaac is making his presence felt here in the Chicago area, disrupting many Labor Day weekend festivals. Isaac will continue to hang out in the area today, this evening/tonight, and into tomorrow, before continuing onward.
The rain is so desperately needed here, after this past summer's drought.
Right now, even through I was sort of in a "drought" this past summer, my life now is anything but a drought. In fact, it's becoming the "hurricane" that Isaac was just 5 days ago down on the Gulf Coast. I have been in contact with World Orphans, a Colorado-based missions organization that specializes in reaching out to orphaned children in poor countries worldwide. I even applied for an opportunity to travel to South Africa with them last week, and on September 20 I'll find out if I made the team to head out in December to South Africa, ministering in the Durban and Pretoria areas.
Beginning in late September I'll begin doing "home visits" to clients of the Peoples Resource Center food pantry in Wheaton, who are shut-in, or have no transportation. Many new opportunities are opening up at this time. The past couple weeks I've communicated with folks I have not heard from, or spoken to, in 3 months. Even went down to Parkview Church last Saturday evening, then went to Willow Creek Chicago last Sunday. I'll attend down there again on September 9.
Stay tuned,,,lots happening.
As always, remember to choose kindness!
The rain is so desperately needed here, after this past summer's drought.
Right now, even through I was sort of in a "drought" this past summer, my life now is anything but a drought. In fact, it's becoming the "hurricane" that Isaac was just 5 days ago down on the Gulf Coast. I have been in contact with World Orphans, a Colorado-based missions organization that specializes in reaching out to orphaned children in poor countries worldwide. I even applied for an opportunity to travel to South Africa with them last week, and on September 20 I'll find out if I made the team to head out in December to South Africa, ministering in the Durban and Pretoria areas.
Beginning in late September I'll begin doing "home visits" to clients of the Peoples Resource Center food pantry in Wheaton, who are shut-in, or have no transportation. Many new opportunities are opening up at this time. The past couple weeks I've communicated with folks I have not heard from, or spoken to, in 3 months. Even went down to Parkview Church last Saturday evening, then went to Willow Creek Chicago last Sunday. I'll attend down there again on September 9.
Stay tuned,,,lots happening.
As always, remember to choose kindness!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
This upcoming fall/winter ministry season could be one of my biggest and best yet. I'm waiting for this summer to end (yes, I know it's twisted and backwards for anyone reading this) and then can immerse myself into the many ministries of Wheaton Bible Church, where I've been attending since July 8. I know the next Hunger Team (their version of Meals on Wheels) training is at the end of this month, and then can officially join the team about 1 month from now. Also am planning to travel internationally with them, or with World Relief, their largest ministry partner.
For the last couple weeks I've been cutting back on a few of my serves, and hoping to fill up my kindness tank, which honestly, has been running close to empty since just after Memorial Day. I sort of took these last 2 months off from international travel due to that. I'll be fully back at it in a month.
Possible trips to South Africa, Haiti, and maybe Kenya are in the works, but not definite yet.
Maybe God has given me these last 2 months to re-focus a bit. Being an others-focused person, I many times tend to neglect myself, and my own needs. More than one friend has reminded me of that in the past couple months. I'm now finally realizing that.
It has been a roller-coaster summer of change and transition.
This Sunday I'll attend the service downtown at Willow Creek Chicago. That is one thing that will not change, attending there once a month
For the last couple weeks I've been cutting back on a few of my serves, and hoping to fill up my kindness tank, which honestly, has been running close to empty since just after Memorial Day. I sort of took these last 2 months off from international travel due to that. I'll be fully back at it in a month.
Possible trips to South Africa, Haiti, and maybe Kenya are in the works, but not definite yet.
Maybe God has given me these last 2 months to re-focus a bit. Being an others-focused person, I many times tend to neglect myself, and my own needs. More than one friend has reminded me of that in the past couple months. I'm now finally realizing that.
It has been a roller-coaster summer of change and transition.
This Sunday I'll attend the service downtown at Willow Creek Chicago. That is one thing that will not change, attending there once a month
Sunday, July 22, 2012
I've attended Wheaton Bible Church for 2 weeks now, and am taking steps to get plugged in there. I participated in their newcomers class for 2 weeks, and now will start checking out different classes, groups, etc. This definitely seems like a place where I can use my gifts. They are a missions-focused, outreach-oriented church. They have missionaries serving worldwide and have many local partners. When you make change, you make friends. Hopefully that's true
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I'm now on the cusp of some big changes, including a church change too. I'll begin attending at Wheaton Bible Church (Wheaton/Carol Stream area) beginning on Sunday July 1. I actually visited here once back in March, and immediately liked it. They are an outreach-oriented church, which is perfect for me.
I'll also be building a new community of folks, from the ground up. Being kind of a "nomad", this will be a change for me, to be rooted and grounded in community by the time fall rolls around. They also have a group of folks called the "Hunger Team", who travel all over DuPage County bringing food items to people who have fallen on hard times, and others who are shut in. Sounds like a great fit, to take my local ministry to the poor to a whole other level. The next chance to join this group of kind souls will be in mid-late August, so not much will happen between now and then. In the meantime I'll begin attending WBC regularly, meet some folks, get my feet wet there, etc.
I'll also be building a new community of folks, from the ground up. Being kind of a "nomad", this will be a change for me, to be rooted and grounded in community by the time fall rolls around. They also have a group of folks called the "Hunger Team", who travel all over DuPage County bringing food items to people who have fallen on hard times, and others who are shut in. Sounds like a great fit, to take my local ministry to the poor to a whole other level. The next chance to join this group of kind souls will be in mid-late August, so not much will happen between now and then. In the meantime I'll begin attending WBC regularly, meet some folks, get my feet wet there, etc.
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