from Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

There is no character, howsoever good and fine, but it
can be destroyed by ridicule, howsoever poor and witless.
Observe the ass, for instance: his character is about perfect,
he is the choicest spirit among all the humbler animals,
yet see what ridicule has brought him to. Instead of feeling
complimented when we are called an ass, we are left in doubt.
-Mark Twain

Practice What You Peach

Auctions speak louder than words. Are my auctions in agreement with my words?

from C. S.Lewis

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

-A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that, through your love, you can make a difference in this world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.

from Hildegard of Bingen

Be not lax in celebration.
Be not lazy in the festive service of God.
Be ablaze with enthusiasm.
Let us be an alive, burning offering
before the altar of God.

A New POV for me anyway

"in ministry with rather than in ministry to" - Do you see the difference? I do not come to you as the lone giver in the relationship. I come to you with an open hand and an open heart ready to receive the gifts that you have to offer me as well as to give you the gifts that I have for you.

QUESTION

When will you and me become we?

from Charles Dudley Warner

"No one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

Many Ways To Be in Ministry

Many Ways To Be in Ministry
There are so many ways of being in ministry. We are limited only by our imagination. Do we need to be limited by money? Can we honestly say that there are any limitations at all if we are truly following God's leading?

Being in missions does not necessarily equal going to far off places. Being in missions does not necessarily equal going across country or town. Being in missions simply means being attuned to the needs of other and being attuned to how God is leading us to respond to those needs.