Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 443

Unlocking The Doors

The keys were in the ignition. The car was running, and the seats were warm.  It was ready to go, the only problem was it’s two normal passengers.  We were also excited, but for a very different reason.  I had locked my Wife and I out of the car.

In thirty eight years, I don’t think that I’ve ever had to call a locksmith to open my car.  Thankfully, it was covered by insurance.  However, I lost roughly two hours in the process. It may not seem like a lot of time, but a great deal can happen in two hours.

In reflecting back on this, The Lord directed my mind to His Church.  We’ve been in a series at our church, Point Of Mercy in Nashville, TN, called “Season Of Sacrifice”.  In it, our Pastor Denny Livingston, was calling us to a deeper place in the work of The Kingdom.  It was a truly great day this past Sunday.  The two images paralleled this afternoon, a ready Church, and a running vehicle.

Like our car, the Church is fueled and ready for the work of God’s Kingdom.  The keys are in the ignition, The Lord Jesus gave them to us before He ascended.  While, not locked, it is secure, and it is warm and inviting.  The problem is, too often, my focus is outside of it. For my fellow drivers, I have one question?

We attend Church, but do we attend to the Church? This vehicle isn’t only a means of personal Salvation, it’s a rescue vessel. Will its mission continue, or succeed without my involvement? Most definitely! However, if I neglect it, or give less than my all; I rob myself of being part of so many blessings.

There is nothing like seeing revelation on the face of a new convert. Or the feeling of praying with someone that you had a hand in witnessing too. There is excitement in everyday Evangelism. While I love the Mission field, we don’t have to go overseas to change lives.

My incident with the car robbed me of two hours. It robbed my coworkers of my help, and it made my Wife late. Aside from the great things I’ve robbed myself of, what have I cost those that I would have reached? Had I not been too busy on my ________ , who would have received this Message, hope, or encouragement sooner?

Thankfully, a Locksmith, wedged something between my car and the door. I received another chance to drive. Sunday was God’s way of stirring us to a call to action. Every day, we are given an opportunity to reach the person that we weren’t able to reach yesterday.

Maybe you’re doing all you can, if so, refuel, and keep going. If you’ve allowed yourself to focus on the traffic beside, and behind you, take heart. God knows how to clear the clutter. Breathe, focus on that person that needs a smile, and drive towards a new day. He unlocked the doors for us. It’s time for us to pick someone else up along the way.

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Guest Artist: Spencer McCool Jr.

Our special guest artist this month is another of my dearest friends. Spencer McCool Jr. is a man of many talents. He is the Pastor of Greater Life Ministries in Utica, Michigan. He, and his wife Tessa, have two wonderful children, and are involved in their community.

You might not expect someone as busy as he is to be a skilled artist, but you’d be wrong. He describes his love of art this way, “Art for me is a release. It’s an opportunity to go into my own world for a few hours. I feel like art should be something you love, and it should be fun. If art isn’t fun you aren’t doing it right.”

While more of a Marvel guy, we both share a love of Batman. His newest piece features his interpretation of two of my favorite characters in the Batman universe. They are Batman and Penguin. We hope you love “Ominous” as much as we do.

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iPainting: The Winter Mountains, The Red Mountains

We’ve started a new series called “The Mountains”. Originally, I come from an area filled with them. My Wife jokingly calls me a mountain man. We hope you enjoy the first set. They are “The Winter Mountains”, and “The Red Mountains”.

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The Italian Hatmaker: Eliminating Check Mate

Henri rode into camp. Sir Robert had sent a messenger, and a sealed note for Henri’s eyes only. It said to meet him in Alan’s tent. If anyone asks, he was only to say that he was going to Alan’s camp, consulting with Sir Robert, and meeting with the Whispering Merchant.

Henri got off his horse, and walked into the tent alone. Sir Robert was seated at a desk. There was a screen that covered half the room. A voice greeted them both from behind the screen. “Welcome gentlemen!”

Henri smiled. “Is this where the performance happens?” Sir Robert laughed. “Most times it is, of course they are are usually about twenty years apart. Our family have a talent for mimicry, and throwing our voice.”

“When did you know?” “When I saw how Alan’s soldier looked at you when you asked if Alan was here?” Sir Robert nodded. “Alex is a good man, but not an actor. Go ahead and ask Henri.”

“What is the purpose?” Sir Robert sighed. “To eliminate check mate. Tell me Henri, how do you keep two chess kings from gaining superiority, one against the other?” Henri, somewhat of a good player himself, said. “You force a stalemate.”

“Many years ago, Alan The Great proposed a plan to the Kings Of England and France. Kings know that there is only one Kingdom that lasts forever Henri.  His plan was this, whichever line was eliminated in the future, that line’s memory would be kept.  Not to honor, and not out of vanity, but as a tool.”

“It was to be a way to keep the other two kingdoms in check. Through the possibility of a third party with a hereditary pedigree. To keep the others from needless bloodshed.  They turned him down, so he secured a promise from his family.  Generation after generation of Alan has kept the threat in the public.”

“So, given the escalating threats of our two young kings, you felt the need to produce a stale mate.  How did you secure the Whispering Merchant?”  “Over time, my ancestors have added to the legend.  They produced, when necessary, a family to substantiate Alan, usually, the heir in disguise.”

“You’ve never had to actually produce the heir.”  Sir Robert smiled.  “Never. ‘The family of the merchants’, have successfully discouraged either country from following through.  This is the closest we’ve come, but our kings are young, and stubborn.”

“So where does the legend of ‘The Flying Swordsman’ factor in?” “That started with my Grandfather.  He found himself in service to the King Of England, his bravery earned that title.  My Father, and myself, have tried to do it justice.  I love England, and I miss it. I love my country’s king. I have always served loyally.”

“Like you, I am a royal cousin. I am a legitimate and direct heir to Alan, but I have no wish to rule.  Also, I wish no ill to the King Of France.  I am afraid Henri, that their youth will overtake their welfare.  You and I have some gray in our hair.  We have fought enough battles to hate the taste of it.  If we can, safely introduce this fear to them today, it will save many lives.”

“What of my Princess, and the two prisoners?”  “I would encourage them to do what my family has for generations.  Hide in plain sight, serve in some quiet way, and live happily ever after.” Henri agreed.  “As you miss England, I miss my house.  Let’s get everyone home.”

A production was set in motion, one involving soldiers instead of actors. This group included a collection of misfits with noble hearts. Two valiant soldiers, an escaped princess, and two brave fugitives.  One of which was, ‘The Italian Hatmaker’, whose particular skills would be vital, if they were to secure the peace.

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Paper Bags, Cardboard Boxes, and iPhones

Ephesians 3:20

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

My supervisor bought doughnuts for our office today. It was a nice gesture, and then something happened. I had trouble closing the box, it was a simple crease issue. I put down what I was juggling, and closed it. Then a thought struck me, “Who created the paper/cardboard box?”

The first paperboard, not cardboard, box was produced in England. However, the pre-cut paperboard/cardboard box was invented in Brooklyn in 1890. His name was Robert Gair, a Scottish born Brooklyn printer and paper-bag maker. Through an accident involving a metal ruler while printing seed bags, he made his discovery. From that, he literally built an empire out of the box.

It’s amusing that the first person to create the box, did it by thinking outside of his current container. We always say to think outside of the box, but he thought outside of the paper bag. The saying has become so cliché that we miss something in it’s wisdom. It isn’t only about thinking differently, it’s about taking your thinking to the next level.

This week, we tech geeks, computer nerds, Apple fan boys, or whatever you want to call us, are excited. The new iPhone(s) are out. The fact that there are two models, is in itself an innovation. There used to be only one new model a year. Whether you are an Android user, or Apple user, we can both agree on one thing. We get excited about innovation.

The thing about innovation is that it’s not only about thinking what has never been thought before, it’s about thinking in a way that you’ve never thought before. In other words, going from the paper bag to the box may seem like a small step today. It wasn’t in 1870, and in many ways, that innovation lead to the smart phones of today.

God doesn’t expect us to think like Him immediately, but He does expect us to think more like Him continually. When He looked at Isaiah, He said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are above your ways.” When we arrive at The New Testament, He says “Follow Me!” “He causes us to sit together in Heavenly places”, and reminds us that now, “We have the mind of Christ.”

Is your thinking right now paper bag thinking? If so, then explore your borders. The difference between a paper bag and the cardboard box isn’t just the folding, it’s the weight. The more we seek His Will, we start to think like Him. The more we think like Jesus, the more we act like Jesus. The more we act like Him, the stronger we become.

The stronger we grow in Him, the more we can bare the burdens of those in need. The Apostle Paul said, “Follow us as we follow The Lord”, we are to be examples. As we step out of paper bag thinking, into cardboard box thinking, and so on, we can connect with others. We do this, not through a wireless connection, but by being wired to a new way of thinking, thinking like Christ Jesus.

If you’re going through a mental battle today, hear this through the noise. Christ loves you! The noise’s only purpose is to disrupt this. It’s designed to keep you from thinking clearly. Yes, it’s plan is to get you to do what you normally wouldn’t think of doing, but it’s more dangerous than that. It wants to keep you from thinking like Him.

The battle you’re fighting, you’re not fighting alone. You also aren’t only fighting for your own survival. The Lord is fighting with you, and together, you are both fighting for someone else. Yes, He is fighting for you, but you are both warring for the benefit of someone else.  You are also fighting for all of those people that, with His help, you are capable of reaching.

When the battle reaches the fiercest level, and you are so tempted to give up, or to give in, ignore the noise and think. Think, not of today, but of tomorrow. Think of those faces in Children’s Ministry that depend on you to hear more about Jesus. Think of that friend that you love, that needs encouragement. Finally think of Christ Jesus, who rescued you with His own blood.

Think out of the situation you are in to the victory a few feet ahead. Think of the fact that on the darkest day of Christ’s life, He thought of the brightest day of our future. He thought of when He welcomed us into His Kingdom.

The battle you are facing is by no means trivial, it’s tormenting and terrifying, but compare it to your future. When you do this, you’ll realize that this is just a paper bag battle trying to keep you from the gift box that God has in store for us all. He is calling you into a greater place in Him.  He is doing this to empower you to carry others tomorrow, through what you have defeated today!

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S.T.A.R.T. Workshop 1: S.T.

I’m excited to share the first article in a our workshop with you. Whether you’re a writer, blogger, podcaster, or other online creative, we’ve got something for you. It’s called the S.T.A.R.T. Workshop.

Over the next few months, we are going to help you to S.T.A.R.T. that project you’ve been putting off. Whether you want to start a WordPress blog, write a novella, or start podcasting, we want to help.

Each letter in our workshop represents part of our action plan to help you on your journey. The first letter S, stands for Say, “Say what you feel, it’s about passion.” The second letter is T, it is for the tools that take you there. One deals with why you wish to say something, the second is about how to say it.

There are more letters, but today, let’s focus on just these two. They cover many facets. Most importantly they deal with the courage to pursue your passion until completion. Whatever your dream is, these two letters can help bring clarity to your goal.

You have something to say, something that means a great deal to you. What is keeping you from saying it? For me, it was a combination. One part fear of failure, the second part, how hard I perceived it to be. Finally, I had to allow my passion to overcome my fear.

The human voice needs the vibration of your vocal chords to produce a sound.

To share my passion, I needed a vehicle with which to communicate it. The human voice needs the vibration of your vocal chords to produce a sound. Just as you need some tool to help vocalize your hopes, and to drown out your fears.

The tool I want to focus on today is that of Writing. It’s both a means of sharing your message, as well as the method to share it with. Writing is dear to my heart. It’s the building block of your project, whether a book, podcast, or a movie. It will help you figure out what does, and doesn’t work.

Along the way, there will be more than one obstacle. One of them is writer’s block, its cold, blank stare silently mocks it’s victim. My goal is to help you to silence it, by helping you find your voice.

Getting Started

I love writing, and in some way, I always have since I was a child. In writing, the trouble for me wasn’t getting started. For me, the beginning of an article, story, or essay was the easy part. One of my strengths was actually the beginning of a story.

Unfortunately, I found finishing them to be much harder. When I started I had both a good introduction and a good ending in mind. It was the murky middle that got in my way. It would stall me out, and more often than not, would trick me into giving up on that writing project.

As an adult, The Lord has helped me with this. Several eBooks later, it’s not the roadblock that it used to be. There are still times when the untamed interior and I wrestle, but He has helped me to combat, and overcome it. Whether your problem is getting started, overcoming the middle, or finding an ending, my desire is to help you to do the same thing.

There are two problems with getting started writing. One is the actual attempt at writing, we will deal with that in the section of this article called Writing Tools. Before that, I want to talk about the psychological barriers to writing.

Psychological Barriers:

Maybe it’s been your dream to write a novel, or start a blog since you were a child. Perhaps you tried in Elementary, or High School, and you were told that your writing wasn’t good. A lot of times, it’s less painful not to try, than to try and have someone laugh at your efforts.

I understand that. I cringe every time someone reads something that I’ve written. I also get excited, I’m thrilled at the possibility of bringing some enjoyment to them with my writing. Don’t you want to experience that? Isn’t the reward of that experience worth the risk?

It’s a question that you have to answer for yourself, or else you’ll never finish, because you’re afraid to start. I had to answer that question. I had to pick my pen up and write again. I had to submit it to someone who I knew could be critical. It was worth the risk.

Once you’re ready to put your message to paper, you must find your place to write.

No, it doesn’t have to be a cabin in the woods, it could be a loud booth at your favorite restaurant. Silence works for some, noise works for others. Some people have a very carefully crafted place to work, others jot notes on a napkin during lunch.

Find the where that works for you. In writing, why, how, what, who, when, and where, are more than journalistic points, they are key stones. You’ve got to answer certain questions to succeed. “Why am I doing this?” If your why is important, than you must figure out your where.

Writing Tools:

How is next on your list, and the last question we will concern ourselves with today. How is different than why, how is about filling up the actual blank page. How begins your story. Here are a few tools to get you started.

These are not methods for everyone, but they will work for many of you. Tools come in different shapes and sizes. We forget that there are different methods for different times, and not only one tool for each person. Some of these may seem simple, and they are, that’s why they work.

Some people are more comfortable developing a plan before they start writing, and that’s ok.  Once your on your path, that can be a successful method.  I’m not as concerned about it now for this reason, you’ve spent hours, days, and years thinking about what you want to say.

Now isn’t the time for planning, that will come later.  Now is the time to actually start writing.  Forget everything else, and focus on it.  I know that writing may not be your ultimate goal, but it is a necessary step in the process.  It will shape your message in ways that nothing else will, essentially the writing itself, is planning for success.

Sharing your message is complicated, when we’re nervous, we make it more so. How is about simplifying it into a manageable state. As you read this, view these as exercises, which can also be simple. Cross fit is complicated, but walking isn’t. Even in the midst of cardio and zoomba, walking is still considered one of the greatest exercises ever.

Three Words

First, start by placing only three words on your page, that’s all. “Write the words you feel about what you want to say on your page.” Not the sentences, not the phrases, but the individual words. Words like pain, hurt, fight, battle, victory, and overcome.

They don’t have to make sense. They don’t have to be eloquent. They are your written first words. We don’t expect a baby to form sentences at first, just words. Give yourself the same time. Simply write a few words on the page.

It doesn’t have to be perfect at this point, it isn’t about that. It’s about getting the building blocks of what you want to say from your heart to your hands. Those few words say more than you’ve been able to say before. They are the raw emotions you feel, the abstract and concrete things that make up your story.

They are building blocks, just like a skyscraper. The foundation of a skyscraper isn’t the gleaming layers of glass everyone sees. It’s the stone and concrete foundation that builds the building.

Was the coat you wore when it happened green? Then write the word green down. Later on, you can describe the green. Maybe it was hunter green, or maybe the light glistened off of it in the sun. We will deal with editing, it’s a vital piece of the puzzle, but we’ll focus on that a little later.

Now isn’t the time to worry about editing, much less a final edit. We all edit a word or a phrase as we go along, but complete editing comes after it’s poured from the vase of your heart to the vessel of consumption, either the page or screen.

Stop Thinking, Watch The Movie

Second, stop thinking for just a moment. Stop focusing on either your fear, or your opening sentence. Close your eyes, pretend what you want to say is a movie that’s already finished and playing in your brain. What do you see?

This isn’t a movie you’re writing or directing, your subconscious has already accomplished that. Just watch. When it’s over, go back, and watch again. Only this time, whether mentally or physically, take notes.

What is the first image that you see? Write it down. Who is in your movie? Write a brief description of them. What is the sequence of events? Jot it down. All of these are clips, are cliff notes of what you haven’t written yet. They’ve been inside you so long, you’ve given them an identity.

Feelings have their own size, shape, and tone. Jot this down. Again, you have something more than you had before. Now you have more of your building material for the next layer. After this, look at that blank page that was mocking you earlier. It’s beat up, bruised with physical or digital ink. It’s no longer the intimidating one. You have left your mark on the first page of your story.

Where To Go From Here

Take that page, and decide where to go next. What tool will take you from your first page to your final page? One method is a classic, it’s an outline. It intimidates some, but for others, it’s the perfect way to start. You’re not writing a novel, you’re making a list. It doesn’t have to reference foot notes and other scary things that remind you of a college English project. It’s simply a list. If nothing else, start by writing the outline this way.

Beginning:

Middle:

End:

Now, split the words from your first page into where you think it will go in your story. Beginning, middle, or end. Those descriptions you wrote after, plug them in to one of the three areas. It doesn’t have to make sense yet, just keep filling this page. It’s the second one you’ve written.

You are ready for a huge step. One that you should be proud of, it’s your first sentence! You are working towards your goal now, and not only dreaming about it. Transfer your first word, or point into a sentence. Grammar isn’t a factor yet, remember our point of reference, a baby’s first words.

Once it’s on paper, you can flesh out your first sentence with a second. Now, wrap up the first two sentences with one or two more. It may take the same procedure to get there, or you may find the next two sentences write themselves. Either way, before you know it, you’ve wrote your first paragraph.

See What You’ve Got

Now, look at the paragraph, but don’t look for quality, not yet. Look for periods. Are there any missing? Did you put a period where you should have used a question mark? I do it all the time. Any misspelled words? Guess what? You’ve just proofread your first paragraph!

After all of this, look at the word structure. Say your first paragraph to yourself. What’s missing? What would you have liked to say differently? Change a word, here or there. Look at your last sentence, if it matches the others, you’re good. You’ve just performed your first literary edit.

I know this may seem trivial, but it’s not. If starting isn’t your problem, that’s wonderful. For others that first paragraph can resemble your worst literary nightmare. You must conquer it, one word at a time.

Look back on what you’ve written, without being critical. It may not be perfect, but it’s your first step. Like a baby’s first words, a baby’s steps can be a little shaky, that’s ok. We cherish a child’s first words and steps because they mark a milestone, so does your first page.

Your work isn’t over, it’s just beginning, but don’t look now, you’re a writer. That pesky writer’s block is subdued in a corner. He’s not dead, you’ll face him again, but next time, you’ll be less intimidated. For now, even if it isn’t published yet, you’re an author!

Obviously, the road ahead is a long one, but this first page should prove to yourself that you can accomplish your goals. The new worries in your mind will most likely be this, “Is it any good? Do I have any talent? Will anyone want to read it?”

…we are all storytellers, and we all have a story to tell.

Those are important questions, before we leave, let me address them this way. While it’s true that not everyone is cut out to tell their story in a literary way, we are all storytellers, and we all have a story to tell. You simply have to find the way to tell your story.

It’s not a matter of whether or not you have something to say, and by the way, you do have the ability to say it. How you articulate it doesn’t reflect your value. You are valuable, and as long as it comes from an unselfish place, you have something to say.

Not all of us will write the great novel of our time, but more of us are writers than we think. In the end though, you have to put it on paper, even if it’s only for yourself. An actor needs a script, an entrepreneur must have a business plan, and a teacher needs a syllabus.

No matter what format it takes on, you had to write it down. It will be your guide in this creative journey, we’ll build on it from here. It’s your goal sheet, your to do list, and your road map. Now that you have it, what do you do next?

That will be the subject of our next workshop article. What happens next? A free website, your own domain name, or recording a podcast? Future workshop articles will help you with WordPress themes, plug ins, and posting practices. The dictionary defines what as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity of a person. Why is about passion, how is the means, but what you do next can define you.

What you do next will shape your audience view of yourself.  This is important, it will help them to identify who you are by what you do.  What will produce your who, both who you are, and who your audience is. 

Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to aid in your creativity. Our goal here is always to add value through words and pictures, in this case articles and videos that will help you S.T.A.R.T. telling your story.

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iPainting: A Tree By The Waters

Psalms 1:3

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

We love this verse, and hope that you love the iPainting named after it, “A Tree By The Waters”.

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All The Time In The World

Matthew 11:19

19 … A friend of publicans and sinners.

I love reading the Gospels. I love seeing the different things that God anointed these four men to write, the events that they all shared, and those occasions that only one or two mentioned. It is my heart felt belief that everything in The Bible, whether written or not written, was for a purpose. If God placed something in The Bible, it’s important. Those times that He chose not to say something, are equally important.

As I was reading, a question came to mind, “How many times have I missed saying something to someone.” The only difference is, they were anointed to write, and anointed not to write certain things. Too often, I simply fail to share what I’ve been anointed to take to a hurting world. How many words of encouragement have I failed to give?

Oh, there are at least a hundred excuses, I was tired, I was sick, I was in a hurry. The Robin Williams tragedy is still fresh in my mind. I don’t pretend to understand the struggles that he faced, nor do I judge him. I wonder though, how many struggling people have I ignored? What opening to reduce their struggle did I miss?

I was guilty of hurrying through a conversation just last night. I intend to remedy that, but how many times did I do this without knowing? This article isn’t meant to discourage, or condemn, just point out an opening to possibilities.

Today, someone is hurting, someone is sad. Maybe someone is even angry, bitter, or lonely. I don’t have to solve their problems, they’re not asking for me to. They may just need a smile, a set of ears, and a heart that cares.   I know how to smile, my ears work, and I do care about them.

We don’t have to have big ideas, we have a great big God. He knows how to do all things, but He says, “Let me take care of the big things. You just do the little things.” The little things, that we can do, a cup of water or coffee, a kind word. In short, be a friend.

Friendship is underrated, and the term is overused. We have acquaintances in life that we call friends, and friends that we show little care too. “They’ll understand, they’re my friend.” “Don’t worry about how grumpy you were. He’s your friend, he’ll understand.” “He knows your friend, he knows you didn’t have time to talk.”

Jesus literally made time for His friends. Before it existed, He created it so He could place man in the garden. Time was made before the fall, before Adam, and before Eve. Time isn’t evil, we redeem the time, not because it’s evil, but because the days are. Sometimes, we must redeem the time.

Lord, help me to make time for my friends, and to take the time to make friends with the hurting. Those that need someone who cares about them, to know that they’ve got a person in their corner. You don’t have to be another Stallone to stand in the corner, he was content with a short old man named Mickey in his. For my younger readers, Jimmy Fallon is no Justin Timberlake, but Timberlake likes standing beside him.

Stand beside someone today, be in their corner, be their friend. Don’t miss an opportunity to introduce yourself to that person who is up a tree and out on a limb. That’s how Jesus met Zacchaeus, and it changed the publican’s life forever. It wasn’t a coincidence though, The Lord came looking for Him.

The Lord was looking for a Zacchaeus, and he was looking for Jesus. Jesus didn’t only look for those who were looking for Him. He searched out those who weren’t reaching out to Him. Just a few examples are the woman at the well, the man at the pool of Siloam, and so many of us.

Too often, I think our problem is we’re not looking. It’s not intentional, but in the midst of busy lives, we ignore the purpose of our lives. As a Christian, my number one calling is love God, and to share His love with others. We think we do pretty well with the first part, but if we’re not fulfilling the second, we’re really lacking in both areas.

One of the greatest lessons our Lead Pastor Denny Livingston has ever taught us is simply this, look for someone that’s hurting. Search out a person that needs your kindness, not your message. Give them your kindness, and they will ask for your message. It may not be verbally, but they will read you.

They will know that you are real, that you’re different, and that you have something that they need. That’s how so many came to Jesus, and never left Him. Will you be hurt? Oh yes. Taken advantage of? Most definitely! He was, but He still opened His arms wide, even as they were bleeding. His enemies didn’t betray Him, His friend did. At the same time, when He needed someone to care for His mother, in the midst of His pain, His true friend was there.

One of the greatest titles that Jesus was ever given was when He was called a friend of publicans and sinners, I pray we make the time, so the same can be said of us. It won’t always be easy, but we were never promised easy. Besides, if everything was easy, we’d only complain about the lack of challenge in our lives. Along the way, they’ll be some rejection, a few conflicts, and some battles. At the end though, if you’re able to stand beside one friend that you’ve brought to Jesus, it’ll be worth all the time in the world.

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Cambridge’s: Kidnapping A Wedding

Winston Jr. stopped his Father. “Wait a minute, what do you mean, you’ve never ‘Not’ planned a Wedding before?” Winston laughed. “You haven’t heard that story?”

“We were to plan a Wedding, your Mother, always a planner, intended to take six months to plan it. We hadn’t counted on two things, your cousin Les, and the one time he wasn’t being a hypochondriac.”

“Les visited from America every year. Each time, it seemed that he would contract some wild illness that turned out to be a combination of allergies and jet lag. So, when his eyes were puffy, and he couldn’t stop yawning at the airport, I shrugged it off. It turned out to be a germ that I still can’t pronounce. He had received it after sitting beside someone returning home to Manchester.”

“As a result, Les, myself, and half of my family were quarantined for six months. Ashley was angry, not at me or Les, although he still isn’t her favorite person, but at the situation. She was determined that if she had to endure this misery for that long, it would at least not alter our plans. Keep in mind, neither one of us could stand up, much less plan a Wedding.”

“What did you do, let Gran and Grandmother plan it?” Winston Sr. laughed at his son’s naivety. “Son, the one thing that you never do, is to exclude the Bride from her own Wedding, believe me I know. Through sheer force of will, your Mother went against doctor’s orders and attempted to plan it from her bedside.”

“As a result, she got worse. Her fever, which this disease feeds off of, went dangerously high. That’s why the Doctor specifically warned against activity. After about two excruciating days, her fever broke. I knew that something had to be done, but she had been adamant that she would not be married in a hospital. I was a bundle of emotions. I was intensely ill, worried for her safety, angry at her for pushing herself, and anxious to get this all behind us.”

“I’m telling you that to make my crazy scheme seem, more. more defensible.” “What did you do?” “Well, I believe your Mother called it grand larceny and kidnapping, though in fairness I had good intentions. It was too occur about midnight, before anyone could realize that we were gone. My friends Vincent and Andrew dressed as nurses and wheeled our beds to the lift. Vincent’s uncle was Doctor Hammonds, so he ‘borrowed’ an ambulance.”

Just then, Winson’s wife Ashley overheard the topic of the two Cambridge men’s conversation. “I was furious when I woke up. Your father had absconded with two quarantined patients, stolen an ambulance, and kidnapped a Pastor.” “I hadn’t gotten to that part yet, although I still contend that he went willingly. He just didn’t admit it to us that until our first anniversary.”

Ashley laughed and kissed her husband. “Your Dad’s two ignorant, lovable, well-meaning friends barged into the Church. They told Pastor Stillwell what was going on, and that they were there to make sure he came to the Wedding. They said he walked to the car laughing as he went. He made a late night phone call to secure a license for his two poor, ill patients.”

“Winston continued the story. “You remember the park that she turned me down in? It always bothered me that the park would be remembered for my stupidity. So, I thought at least let it be remembered for good stupidity.”

“Vincent positioned our beds under the tree, laid a Wedding dress and a tuxedo on the side of each of our beds, and woke us up. I hurriedly explained to your Mother what I had concocted, and she was …” “I was furious, and then, I laughed. It was so typical of your father. This was the man who would jump off a motorcycle to impress me on our honeymoon. Pastor Stillwell quickly married us, fighting back hilarity the entire time.”

“Later, after the illness, we had a regular Wedding that your Mother planned. I just didn’t want her to spend six more months single because of a taxi from the airport. I secured the date for our anniversary, that was the important thing. She wanted to be married on the anniversary of her Grandfather’s birthday. Since he couldn’t see her Married, she wanted a Wedding connection to him.  It was important to her, so it was worth the risk.”

Winston Jr. laughed. “I get what you’re saying. Do my best to make the business a success, but not at the expense of what’s important. It’s one thing to risk your fortune, and your neck, for the ones you love. That’s worth it, but it’s quite another to do it for a few more dollars in an account. What was that business about jumping off a motorcycle?”

Ashley cleared her throat. “That’s a topic for another day, and another visit to Cambridge’s. The piece that impaled your Father’s kidney now resides on the wall. We spent a lot of that first year in hospitals, but it didn’t matter.  We found something in each other that made every adventure romantic, even if we were coughing and sneezing at the time.  ”

Thus concludes this first edition of the story of Cambridge’s. We hoped you enjoyed meeting part of the family, and look forward to sharing more adventures of Cambridge’s and their proprietors.

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Standing Together

“… That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”



Today, we celebrate, not the brutality of our enemies, but the courage of our fellow citizens. We remember, through the blackness, the dust covered faces of those who left the rubble of that tragedy. Some walked out, others were carried, and still others walked in to accomplish both. Thirteen years later, the horror of that day lingers, but the bravery of it resonates.

On that day, there were soldiers, and men of faith working together. It didn’t matter that one stood behind a pulpit, while the others drove a fire engine. Not far from both, soldiers use to foreign battlefields, readied to fight unknown obstacles in their back yards. My prayer today is for those who fight our physical enemies, and those who fight our spiritual ones. I encourage you both to keep up the good work that you are already accomplishing.

We are Americans, under God, standing together against a common foe. The same is as true today, as it was that day. A lot has happened since then, the feeling of cooperation may at times be forgotten, but it’s not gone, not completely. Today, both Republicans and Democrats stand ready to fight against terror. Some in suits, some in military fatigues, some at altars, but they stand.

Yes, we have our differences, but no, we are not all that different. Regardless of color, race, or religion, on that day we were all attacked. It didn’t matter to the terrorists how we voted, how we worshipped, or what color we were. They didn’t attack conservative Americans, nor did they attack liberal Americans. They attacked Americans.

Our country is not perfect, it wasn’t on that day, but we prevailed. As one nation, we bowed to God, asked for His help, and then went to work. We did it then, and we can do it now. America needs Revival, we need a Spiritual awakening to stand against the enemies of our soul as well as our soil. The day may seem dark, we may have our struggles, but we can succeed.

The military, the police, and our fire departments will keep fighting. Our Church has men and women right now committed to the future of our nation. As men and women of faith, we must do the same. Praying for our warriors, but also, being warriors in prayer ourselves.

You may ask, why mention our spiritual condition? Because at the moment of every great tragedy in our history, we realized something. From Washington to Lincoln, Roosevelt to Kennedy and beyond, they all knew one vital truth. We could not do this by ourselves, we needed His help. Once we aligned ourselves with the God of battles, the battles were won.

On this, the thirteenth anniversary, of the tragedy of our generation, we echo the words of Lincoln. As he stood on the battlefield of Gettysburg, not long removed from the smell of cannons, he told us something. He said, we must work, so that those who paid the ultimate price, wont’ have done it for naught. We must work to ensure that our nation continues, not simply the shell of a physical country, but the heart of a spiritual nation.

As Americans, we must seek the welfare of our country, our leaders, and our future. This means, just as Washington and Kennedy, we must take the battle to our closets, on our knees. We must pray, for salvation, for strength, and straight paths for this nation. Once we’ve left our knees, we must put our backs to the plow, sharing the love of Christ to every one we meet. There was a time when every red blooded American knew, and at least respected, The Blood Of Jesus. It is our mission, to see to it once again.

Don’t let anyone or anything discourage you in your faithfulness. We don’t know how much time we have left to work, I believe it’s not very long, but we must work. You are doing a great work, don’t give up, don’t give in, keep fighting, keep sowing! Work, work until the second of The Lord’s return. To the Church, “One nation under God”, isn’t only our pledge, it must be our practice.



Galatians 6:9-10

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men,]

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