Share Your World 2015 Week #42

Yay! I am actually ahead in my weekly blogging duties this week and this is being written a day earlier than usual (even if it may not be posted a day earlier due to scheduling concerns).

I truly relish this post every week in which I get to share a little bit of my world with all y’all through Cee’s insightful and fun questions.

You can Cee how Cee’s other contributors answered the questions by looking HERE.

Here are her questions and my answers.

Are you usually late, early, or right on time? 

My father ( a small businessman by trade) drilled it into my sister and me from an early age, “early is on time, on time is late and late is unacceptable. I have learned to give others who don’t share my philosophy grace. But even in the church world I am the guy who is the first to arrive and the last to leave.

If you were or are a writer do you prefer writing short stories, poems or novels?

I write all three but have less and less time to write poetry lately.

Where did you live at age ten?  Is it the same place or town you live now? 

I am actually living in the house I moved to when I was ten. It is in Winchendon MA.

Would you rather be able to fly or breathe under water?

Fly most definitely!

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

I am so grateful to the team who helped make this weekend’s art & car show such a success. This week I am looking forward to seeing my lead pastor again. I have missed him these last three weeks.

Share Your World 2015 Week 40

It is time to share our world again!!!

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I love this time of the week when I get to sit down and think through and answer Cee’s five questions. I also love reading the responses that come to Cee from around the globe.

When you have finished reading my answers take a trip through the underlined link to see what people have told Cee about their worlds.

Here are this week’s questions…

If you have been to a foreign country name those you have been too?

I have been to Mexico, England, Ireland and the Netherlands. Each trip was different and special in its own way. Mexico and England were missions trips. My daughter and I road-tripped the perimeter of Ireland. I have been to the Netherlands twice to visit my sister.

Is the glass half empty or half full? What type of glass is it and what is in the glass?

I really loved so many of the answers that Cee’s contributors gave to this question. For myself I will answer my cup is full enough! I love what God has given me in life. Should He choose to take me from this earth today I have lived a full life. I can depart in peace even though there are certain things I have not done yet; but I think He will give me a bit more time and a bit more fullness.

My cup is a simple plastic cup, nothing fancy but made to endure.

It is flowing with milk and honey!

If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?

Italian food!

List:  List at least five places worth shopping.

There are more than five places to shop? Who knew?

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am so grateful I was able to go to a night of worship hosted by Rend Collective last Friday. This week I am looking forward to worshipping at the Lifeskills program  In Ashburnham MA, finishing the prologue to my book for my publisher and preaching on Sunday morning at Cornerstone Church.

Share Your World 2015 Wild & Wacky Week 39

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This week Cee has asked some really fun questions!

My first response to question number 1 was “Really?”

I don’t know why but I was a little bashful about answering it.

The questions and my answers are below and you can discover other answers from around the world by clicking

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Which way does the toilet paper roll go? Over or under?

To be honest I don’t have a toilet paper holder. My toilet paper sits on a ledge and goes left to right when I pick it up.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Burnt Sienna. Some days I feel a little more burnt than others.

You are comfortable doing nothing? For long stretches of time?

Actually the answer to this is “no.” I do enjoy my down times and when I have them I like to be quiet but I have become used to being busy and I do not like it when I have days of unending quiet. I usually find something to keep myself occupied.

Rather:  Would you accept $5,000 to shave your head or die it bright lime green and continue your normal activities while not explaining the reason for your haircut or color?

I would love to dye my hair lime green and not tell people why for $5,000.00 In fact if anyone is offering I will take the deal so I can visit my son in South Korea. I would also go bald for $5,000.00 but as my hair has dramatically thinned in the last year I doubt anyone would seriously think of offering me $5,000.00 to do a job that is already half done anyway.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am so grateful that the Toy Town Fall Fest was a resounding success. Our committee was looking to do an event that created togetherness, In fact our theme was “Building the Toy Town of Tomorrow Together”. It was awesome to see so many town agencies out working to bless the community.
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This week I am looking forward to buckling down and getting a lot of writing done!

Share Your World 2015 Week 37

We are 37 weeks into sharing the year with each other using Cee’s wonderful site and weekly questions.

I have answered her questions and shared my world below. After you have read my thoughts click the underlined link above and see what Cee’s other contributors have shared.

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If you could have three wishes granted for you alone, what would they be?

Wishes are tricky things you see. I thought about wishing the mistakes of my past undone but some of those mistakes while painful had unintended good consequences. Undoing them would remove the good as well as the bad. So I would not wish away my mistakes. I guess I could wish for money but I don’t know that I could handle it. So I wouldn’t wish for money. Fame? Nah!

I think I would wish for godliness with contentment.

I would wish for the fruit of the Spirit to multiply in my life.

I would wish for the ability to forgive as completely as God forgives.

What is the most incredible natural venue that you’ve ever seen in person?

Oh boy this is a hard one. I think the Grand Canyon was an incredible view. The Grand Tetons were also amazing. The Great Plains actually struck me dumb. The Irish Coast was amazing as was Killarney. I think the world is the most amazing natural venue I have seen in person. Each place has a beauty all its own.

Is your hair short (total neck and ear showing), medium (covering ears and neck), long (below shoulders) or extra long (at least halfway down your back)?

Short, but I do have a tendency to let it grow to medium length between cuts simply because I don’t have enough time to get to the barber.

List some of your favorite blogs.

Ceenphotography.com . This is a great photography blog everyone check it out. 🙂

anotherredletterday.com  Prolific author Ben Nelson shares the red-letter words of Jesus and other Scriptural truths

jsparkblog.com  Pastor J.S. shares thoughts and advice on navigating church life in the 21st Century.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful Rose Hall Media signed me to a book contract on Saturday. Here is a picture of my editor Tracy and my publisher Ken.

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This week I am looking forward to sharing the gospel in music at Wachusett Manor Nursing Home and at the Gardner Visiting Nursing Association Dayhab. I am also looking forward to preaching at Cornerstone Church on Sunday.

Share Your World 2015 Week 35

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It is time once again to play SHARE YOUR WORLD,  the game where Cee  asks five questions and we answer them for the whole world to see.

If you want to see more of Cee’s world or the many worlds of her contributors just click on the icon above and you will be whisked away to Ceeland .

Here are the questions and my answers.

What made you feel good this week?

So many things really encouraged me this week. The opportunity to preach every single day was just awesome and the opportunity to baptize three new friends. Well that just can’t be beat!

For potlucks or parties do you cook it yourself, buy from a grocery store, or pay for catering?

This one really depends on the amount of time I have. This summer I have found myself buying most of my potluck fare simply because cooking time has been severely limited.

What is your favorite part of the town/city you live in.  And what Country do you live?

I live in the US of A and my favorite part of town is Cornerstone Church where I work. I have had so many great experiences there over the years.

Complete this sentence:  My favorite place in the whole world….. has not been established yet. I am waiting for Heaven to come to Earth!!!! Call me crazy but I believe the last chapters of the Bible (and all the ones before the end too)

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am so grateful I got to preach at Special Touch Camp last week and at the home-going of one of God’s saints and at Cornerstone Church. This week I am looking forward to getting caught up on my reading and writing and a little R& R at the pool in Jiminy Peak.
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Sunset at Jiminy Peak

Share Your Wourld 2015 Week 33

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It’s that time of the week again folks. Here I am answering our hostess Cee’s five questions so that you can share in a part of my world.

Check out what others have shared HERE.

And here are the questions and my answers.

What are some words that just make you smile?

I love words period. But some of the words that make me smile are: hoi palloi, hoity toity, cattywhompus, and a word that my family uses to refer to bad drivers on the road that probably should not make me smile but just does…yep I’m going to leave you guessing what that word is. Maybe someday you will drive with one of my family members and discover it but until then…

You’re given $500,000 dollars tax free (any currency), what do you spend it on? 

Getting my sister back to Holland for her mission work and fixing up the house.

What subject would you like to study in depth, if given the time to do so?

I would love more time to study the art of writing effectively.

Would your rather be stuck in a small plane with bad turbulence for 2 hours or be a passenger in a car racing the Daytona 500?

Daytona 500 no contest. I have been stuck in a turbulent flight and that was no fun. I thought the wings were going to flap right off the plane.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am grateful I got to spend some wonderful time with my son before he left for South Korea to begin his teaching career. Next week I am looking forward to preaching the chapel services for The Special Touch Northeast Regional Getaway in the Berkshires.
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The last breakfast with Grammy Lillie and Aunt Brenda.
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Contemplating the rain.

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Joe and his mom share a moment at “the last supper.”

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Family photo just before boarding.

Share Your World 2015: Two Weeks (29&30) In One

Cee is on a retreat this week (teaching and training I think but you would have to read all her work to know for certain). You can find out more about that by clicking the “Share Your World” Icon below.

Now, because of the teaching/ training retreat, Cee has consolidated week 29&30 into one set of questions which equals out to 2 1/2 questions a week. Since it is really hard to answer 1/2 a question (although some would say I do that with some regularity) I have opted to answer all five questions at the beginning of week 30. There ya’ go! That is my story and I’m stickin’ to it!

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As a young boy I wanted to be a zoo keeper. Then in eighth grade I had a rather sudden shift. I remember going to my mother and telling her I was going to become a minister. I didn’t even go to church at the time, but I just knew that I was called… and well… I guess it was my first genuine God moment because today I am Pastor J.

What was your favorite food as a child? Do you eat it now? 

Macaroni & Cheese with hot dogs. Yes I sometimes still eat it, though it is not one of my “favorites” now.

If you were invisible, where would you go?

Invisible wouldn’t do it. I would also need mind reading ability to see what people were really thinking. But then if I could read minds maybe it wouldn’t be necessary to be invisible because then I could get more out of a hand shake than I ever would out of skulking around in shadowy corners. Until then I will just content myself with the knowledge that “God knows”.

Was that 1/2 an answer? Oh well I can’t tell you where I would go because then the people would be expecting me and never share, even in darkened corners, the things I want to know. Tthat would negate any benefit of being invisible (should I ever get the power). You see, mind reading is a much more beneficial skill!

Would you rather forget everyone else’s name all the time or have have everyone forget your name all the time?

I have a hard time remembering everyone else’s name (sometimes including my own). I hate that and would gladly trade it for everyone forgetting my name. I have found though that if you can remember people’s names they generally remember yours.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am very grateful for a great trip to get my son in NJ last week and I am also grateful that his contract in Gyeongbuk was approved. Below are some picture of the area he will be heading to.

I am looking forward to preaching this week at Cornerstone a new message entitled “Unintended Consequences” from Genesis. 2.

Share Your World 2015 Week #28

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It’s time to share little bits of my world with y’all again! When you’ve done with my world shoot on over to Cee’s by clicking the icon above and see how the rest of the world is sharing!

Here are the sharing questions for the week posted by Cee herself:

What is your favorite comfort snack food?

I love nutty buddies, peanut butter ice cream and peanut butter sandwiches (with or without spaghetti sauce). I think peanut butter is the key. What do you think?

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If you had to spend one weekend alone in a single store but could remove nothing, which store would you pick? (except food or beverage)

Barnes & Noble of course. I could get through a couple of books in that time and I could nap in their big comfy chairs. I think they sell Peanut Butter cookies so I would be all set there.

What was the largest city you have been to?  What is the one thing you remember most?

I think the largest city I have been to has to be Manhattan NYC. I remember there were so many people on the side-walk I couldn’t stop because I was being carried along by the crowd. If there had been a peanut butter sandwich on the ground I could not have rescued it without being trampled to death myself.

Finish this sentence:  It has recently come to my attention that ….

I have a thing for Peanut Butter.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up

I am very grateful for the opportunity to spend a day in Boston with Evangelist Dorsey Ross and missionary Brenda Lillie. This week I am looking forward to further editing the chapters of my book.

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Me at Boston Harbor

Share Your World 2015 Week 20

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Hey folks! Here we are at Share Your World once again. Do you realize we have shared over 1/3 of 2015 with each other already? Time flies when you are having fun! If you click the icon above it will take you to our hostess Cee’s site and from there you can have your world enlarged by entering into the community of sharing she provides.

Here are this week’s questions and my answers.

What is the most important thing that you ever learned? (I bet it’s not something you learned in school)

The most important thing I ever learned was, that God so loved the world ( and me) that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for my sins ( and the whole world’s sins) so that if I would believe in Him  I would not perish but have everlasting life ( and that also goes for every other man woman and child on the face of the planet). Every other lesson in life is defined by what we do with that truth.

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What feeds your enthusiasm for life?

9But if I say, “I will not mention his word

or speak anymore in his name,”

his word is in my heart like a fire,

a fire shut up in my bones.

I am weary of holding it in;

indeed, I cannot. Jer. 20:9

 

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What’s your most memorable (good or bad) airplane commercial or private flight?

The first time I visited my sister in The Netherlands I flew Iceland air into Keflavik. Our lay over was about two hours and I remember looking out at the beauty of Iceland and thinking that someday I would return to explore this place that looked a bit like the moon to me.

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If you were a great explorer, what would you explore?

Iceland.

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I am so grateful for the wonderful Network Council I just came from. I am looking forward to teaching my class in the Minor Prophets tonight and preaching on Sunday morning a message called “For God and Country.”

Share Your World 2015 Week #19

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Here we are again at SYW! Each week our hostess, Cee asks five questions. As we answer them our worlds collide (gently of course). Read my answers below and then click the Share your world icon above and it will take you to a whole new level of sharing over at Cee’s blog!

Here are the questions!

Would you prefer a one floor house or multiple levels?

My home is a multi-level Edwardian style. I would love it to be a one level ranch.

If you have a TV, would you prefer the TV in the living room or another room?

The Living Room. I used to have one in the bed room and I find I am not a big fan of that.

When you leave a room, do you turn the lights off behind you or keep the lights on throughout your house most of the time? Explain your answer.

I try to turn the lights out except at night when I am making several trips from the living room to the kitchen ( because I am making snacks while I watch television of course). Then I leave the lights on in the kitchen.

What’s your favorite room in your home?

I think my favorite room is my bedroom. I do a lot of thinking, studying and napping there. It is my refuge from the world

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

 I am very grateful to have been able to go to my son’s Masters graduation in PA last week. Here are some photos

Next week I am looking forward to our annual church network conference in Connecticut,