new day, new approach

try, try, try again.

i'm not listening

it seems that I have not been listening for a very long time. This is the 'millionth' time I tried and failed. This course I have not changed for so long is still with me. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to shake these chains off of me. After all, am I failing in my purpose of this life if my faults are not corrected? give it up. Yes, giving it up to God. Some may think this is cliche. Some may say i am copping out. I say maybe this is progress. Maybe this time... And then every time up until this time, i have said that, i plunge deeper down with my chains dragging downwards. Easy said then. The voice inside is urging me onward. Tune my off-key notes. Change me. Change me. I seem to have not been listening. I may have missed out but I need to cease on trying solo so here I go towards the purpose of this life set before me. Hoping. Loved. Perserverance. One step. the path i choose is no longer my own. Guide me. Hoping in my hopelessness. Wanting more. I am ready to listen, O God. Here I am in my stained state. Cleanse me. Heal me. Lead me where I should go.

Quotes from Reinhold Pabel

'I hope America will remain a sanctuary for personal liberty as well as a bulwark of freedom against the slavemasters of the world"

" I cannot fail to observe that even in America, gov't restrictions of personal liberty, in an effort to safeguard security and the welfare of the people, are definitely on the increase. I hope with all my heart that America will never yield to the temptation to use methods of control and suppression that smack suspiciously of tidbits from the dictators' bill of fare."

"A rabbi (in 1950's) said during "Brotherhood Week" in Chicago, 'real brotherhood could be accomplished only if one group would rise and fight against injustices done to others, not only when their own rights have been violated."

"To joke and to laugh-even at one's own expense- is an excellent way to overcome tough situations"

failure is not an option

Unless, one wishes to ignore the obvious, failure is an option. One decides to take it or not. Hopefully, not. Reinhold Pabel stated something remarkable, Enemies are human. If one cannot see the ones that are not friends(enemies) as human, how can one exhibit one's own humanity? Befriend the friendless. Assist those who need it. Ask yourself, Is failing an option? One should answer yes, it is. But then after stating the logic answer, one should state that choosing failure over choosing what is right and good is the wrong choice. One should know, Each person that one encounters deserves dignity, respect, and know that God Almighty's spirit resides in them and God wishes for each person to impart into the ones who have given up a re-newed sense of purpose of this life which we live. Will you do that? Each person is a human and God wants us to help restore them into communion with Him.

words, choose them carefully

I have learned to listen but I fail in most regards.

I know which words to say but often put my foot in my mouth or later become hypocrite

progress is often not in leaps or bounds but in baby steps.

day two

back in the same slew

theday

there comes a day, where one says, i am going to change. I am going to start making stride to reach that level in which I will become the person I want to become.
Is today theday? (Can't you sense the urgency in the question?)

Notes from a summer sermon

May we always say, cleanse me O God. Restore me the joy of salvation so I may rejoice in God's Grace and see his work in every face.
Do we truly welcome sinners, poor and needy?
Do we honestly accept others as they are?
Are we willing to watch God's Grace work its' way?
As we observe our friends stumble, fall, and struggle, will we be able to remain humble, to be loving and uplifting, not criticizing or judging?
Abhor the sin but love the sinner?
Thru our actions, may we allure like a fisherman's spinner.

summer sermon

These are the note from one of the summer sermons. Your neighbor is anyone who needs help.
Rituals will not do. Ceremony is empty.
Transformation of being to act, Make a difference.
do something tangible to show others.
God is with us.
God is in us.
God is here.
God can hear.