The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
Accomplished a ton of work today both at the office for a few hours and also on the road. Had a meeting today, and connected with Pastor Jenn Lee for lunch. I'm crazy about that woman! We have so much in common it's ridiculous right down to a love for Mustangs. (She just got a Mustang convertible last week...) I so much enjoy talking with women who share my passion for ministry...for co-pastoring, for dream chasing, for worship. She's one of those people. I really wished I could stay at lunch forever but had to get back...
Speaking of Mustangs, Ernie Haaire Ford called tonight while I was at church and left a message that they have a silver Mustang they want me to come over and take a look at.
Tonight we finished our Courageous Parenting series in the Wednesday night adult service. What a great series this has been. Larry and I normally take turns preaching every other Wednesday night and this works great for us. This month though, we tag teamed every message and then did a Q & A at the end of the service. I think we have gotten more feedback (all good) from this series more than any other. After service, Larry and I decided to take Dustin out for a bite to eat, just the three of us. We so rarely get this time just with us three and with the other two kids at camp it was possible. We have a good time talking with him as he's on such a different level now as he's growing up. Amazing some of the insight he has and I enjoy so much his passion for reaching his unchurched friends and talking about it with him. Stephen came over to spend the night tonight, and it's good to have him, "our third son" back in the house again. He's been gone for 2 days. We're starting to go through Stephen withdrawals. We really miss him when he's not here. Just as I do stuff for my 3 kids, so I also do for Stephen, everything from make him sweet rolls to admonish him about something, to give him "the speech" when Larry and I leave town and the boys stay by themselves. He's used to it.
I'm tired from handling a lot of details today. I've been returning a lot of phone calls and making a lot of phone calls mainly for the Unstoppable Conference. Today I spent a major amount of time on the phone, and although I normally loathe the phone, when I'm passionate about a project I don't mind.
From time to time I really enjoy doing one of the many "surveys" circling the web, because it requires no brain power of me. I love to write but sometimes I want to do something easy, not heavily contemplative. All a survey requires of me is simply answering questions truthfully (well at least I choose to do them honestly...) After a long day when I feel like writing but not really using my head on anything serious, I do these. So here's one that came to me today:
1 .) If I were a doll, the accessories packaged with me would be: briefcase, latte and sunglasses
2) I have an irrational fear of... having my head underwater, although it's not totally irrational IMHO, because I could drown.
3.) What type of food do you eat at your grandparents house? Nothing anymore - they are all dead. However when they were still here on earth, the most wonderful stuff imaginable. Most of all - incredible pies from both my grandmas.
4.) What weight were you when you were born? No idea.
5.) What would you do if you were stranded on an island with the person you hate most? I'd say, "see how mad God is at you?" No, no, just kidding. First, there's no one I hate. It affects my preaching too much to hate people, not to mention my spiritual life. And since I want to one day be one of the best communicators walking the planet I try to keep stuff like that out of my life. But I do find myself having to forgive people, and let go of offenses at times. And if I was stuck with such a person, actually I'd probably spend a lot of time off to myself laying down in the sand, praying and seeking God to help us off the island, but also help us to get along while there. I would pray for a miracle, the first being forgiveness, because I believe forgiveness is a miracle in itself when accomplished.
6.) When is your next vacation planned? Not sure, still making decisions on that one...
7.) Do you stalk anyone on Myspace? No, too many people who like to talk with me that I don't have time to beg or chase somebody who doesn't.
8.) I find the thought of childbirth: extremely painful but incredibly special. I love the newborn phase. Thoroughly enjoyed my pregnancies and time immediately after delivery.
9.) My feet are: big (size 9) and improving as I get pedicures.
10.) My preferred food is: mashed potatoes
11.) Why is your 1 your 1? He's my husband, the love of my life.
12.) Know how to cook? Yes.
13.) I am annoyed with: lazy people.
14.) What is the worst way you were dumped? Not completely forthrightly - feeling something was wrong - not sure what - sensing coldness and having it evolve rather just honesty from the get go...feeling the pain, letting it go.
15.) What child-related smell do you not like? Can't really think of anything except some liver somebody cooked one time that made me want to throw up when I smelled it.
16.) What sea creature scares you? Sharks
17.) What kind of car do you have? None right now - sore subject.
18.) What object have you broken most recently? can't really think of anything recent.
19.) Name one of the Spice Girls: No idea. Not my cup of tea.
20.) What is the last thing that made you cry? preparing to go on the car lot.
21.) What are the stems on wine glasses for? Looks - they are elegant.
22.) My favorite shoes are: my black flip flops
23.) Can you use chopsticks? No.
24.) Do you prefer beaches or forests? Beaches.
25.) What serial killer do you find most disturbing? Jeffrey Dahmer
26.) Who knows a secret or two about you? Any close friend knows at least one secret as I'm a really transparent person with my close friends.
27.) Have you ever burned yourself? Yes, in fact I burned myself really bad when I was 5 years old from the waist down and was wrapped up for a couple weeks. I had first, second and third degree burns from the waist down. I remember it pretty well. I got close to the stove and toppled and entire pot of boiling chicken soup over.
28.) Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now? I don't know because I'm not interested in spending any brain power, nor time on anyone who would do so. I don't wait to dignify them with so much as a moment of my thoughts if they are doing that. I have too many good friends who are crazy about me to worry about a goof who's not.
29.) Where is your brother right now? Susquehanna, PA.
30.) Do you believe in things that last forever? Yes, God's love. His Word. Us. (We all live forever somewhere. Where is the question! It's our choice.)
31.) What are you listening to right now? Nothing. I'm winding down for the day and siting here quietly. Since Savanna and Jordan are at camp and not arguing in front of me right now this is possible. What joy that they are not arguing over the computer, the remote, who's clothes are in the washer or dryer, who ate the last GoGurt. Halleluiah, the sound of silence!
32.) What do you smell like? Vanilla perfume from Bath and Body works.
33.) Are you married? Yes, and it's a good thing! Twenty years and it gets better all the time.
34.) Does anyone regularly tell you they love you? Yes, every single day. My husband tells me several times. And my kids too, especially Dustin.
35.) Do you have any bad habits? Yes, and I'm always working on them.
36.) Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? YES!!! I am a teacher really - as a pastor, but I always wanted to be a high school teacher too.
37.) What is one thing you've learned about life? Good and bad things run parralel and they often arrive at the same time. You've got to celebrate the daylights out of every good thing that happens. And..choose the right friends for the journey. They make all the difference.
38.) What is your favorite color? Pink
39.) Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? no.
40.) How many of the people in your friends list on Myspace do you actually know in real life? Every single one of them - I don't add them if I don't know them.
41.) Has anyone told you that they like you as more than a friend? Yes. I married him. 
42.) What are you looking forward to? Going on my next date with Larry or away on an overnight.
43.) How are you today? Very well, thank you.
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Love you........... (smile)