Share Your World May 29,2017

I missed last week’s Share Your World. Honestly I missed almost an entire week of blogging. I was away at our fellowship’s Southern New England Conference and then three funerals in quick succession kept me and the staff here at Cornerstone pretty busy. Finally the weekend was given to our Lead Pastor and his wife’s final services with Cornerstone Church. Sunday morning we finished together as a congregation, one last time, on our knees before the Lord thanking God for these shepherds He sent among us for fifteen years.

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Now I am back. Tomorrow I will lead our staff meeting as we await the arrival of our interim pastor. before I do that I am turning my gaze to….

SHARE YOUR WORLD.

You can click the underlined link to see how Share Your World works. It is an awesome focusing challenge that is based around five simple weekly questions.

Here are this week’s questions and my answers:

What is the most famous landmark or building you have ever seen?

Oh my that is a tough question. I have been privileged to go so many places and see so many wonderful things. Here are a few…

 

Do you like long vacation or lots of mini-vacations?

I once took a three week vacation. I missed home and work even though I had a wonderful time. I like shorter breakaways but also know that if I am travelling far I need to factor in rest time for the journey

What is your favorite National or State Park?

I loved Zion though I was only their for a few short hours. I also loved The Grand Canyon.

What is your fantasy vacation?

I so want to take a Viking River Cruise. Although I wouldn’t sniff at an entire week in Killarney or traveling the Ring of Kerry.

Optional 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 have been a part of the farewell services for our Lead Pastor, Barry Risto and his wife Pastor Deb Risto.

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This week I am grateful to be moving forward into what God has for us next at Cornerstone as our interim youth and interim lead pastor come in.

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Josef Everett Interim Youth Pastor

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Tim Moen, Interim Lead Pastor

 

Share Your World May 15, 2017

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This week marks my seventh anniversary as a blogger! It seems like just yesterday that I was embarking on this journey of relationships. really I feel like I have not yet learned how to do it right. But I am growing everyday through intentional application. Cee has been with me for most of this journey and her challenges have kept me coming back to the writing desk and the relational world that blogging is. Thank you Cee.

Share Your World was one of the first challenges I joined as a new blogger and answering Cee’s questions through the years has been a great joy. Sharing my world through the five questions and your reactions to my answers has been a great boon to my life as a blogger. Thank you readers. Now here for my seventh anniversary I am answering another set of Cee’s questions. You can see how all Cee’s contributors answered the questions  by clicking HERE.

Here are the questions and my answers:

How many languages do you you speak?

Can we count the heavenly language that Pentecostals speak?

If so then at least two. If not then one and half like this guy.

What are you reading, watching, listening to, eating?

Reading: Rhythms of Rest by Shelly Miller

Watching: Once Upon A time

Listening To: Nathan Pacheco, Don’t Cry

Eating: Hershey’s Mini candy bars

What was the last photo you took with your phone?

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What is your favorite time of day? 

I love walking my dogs at 4 A.M. It is so quiet. Today on my walk I listened to this song.

Optional 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 our successful outreach to Lifeskills last week. I am looking forward to the first visit of our interim pastor, Tim Moen, this Sunday.

 

Share Your World May 1, 2017

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Good afternoon friends! Before I head out to do the grocery shopping for the week, I am going to take a few moments to SHARE MY WORLD. This is the challenge where I answer five questions posted by my friend Cee.  A bunch of us across the blogoshpere do the same and in so doing we share our worlds.

You can see a wider view of the world by clicking on the underlined link above. Here are the weekly questions and my answers:

Would you rather live where it is always hot or always cold?

If I had to choose, I would rather live where it is always hot. Cold makes my bones ache. That said I really do appreciate the seasons here in New England.

Do you prefer long hair or short hair for yourself? 

Short hair. It is getting shorter and sparser every year. Maybe that’s not a preference…just an acceptance of reality.

What is your favorite month of the year?

I love June. The black flies have mostly baked away and it just feels like a time of beginnings.

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What is the easiest way for your to learn something new?  By reading, by seeing and doing, in a classroom?

I like to learn by reading and by listening to lecture and conversing in a group.

Optional 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 to God for the interim Pastor He has chosen to shepherd our little flock. Rev. Tim Moen is an old friend of mine. It will be nice working with him again even if only for the briefest of seasons. I am looking forward to the refreshing conference I am heading to tomorrow.

Share Your World April 24, 2017

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I have been a regular contributor to SHARE YOUR WORLD for several years now. It is a great weekly challenge to build community and to get the brain juices flowing for creative writing.

You can see how the world has shared itself in five questions by clicking the underlined link above. The five weekly questions posed by our hostess, Cee, and my answers are below

Wanting something to quench your thirst, what would you drink?

My go to drink during the day is coffee. But that is more of an energy boost admittedly and not a thirst quencher. When I am really thirsty lately I have been drinking cold cold cold water.

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Complete this sentence:  Never In My Life Have I…. 

There are so many nevers….I have never jumped out of an airplane. I have never bungi jumped. I have never ridden a donkey into the Grand Canyon. I have never been to Portland Oregon. See lots of nevers. Most of those are probably really unimportant if I never do them my life will probably go on without to much regret.

I bet though that Cee is not after all the little nevers. What are the big nevers? I guess my biggest never is that I have never doubted there was a God. Even when I didn’t know who he really was…even when I thought He was someone else (and yes I did worship other gods before I became a Christian), I never doubted that He was.

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photo: kevin carden, Creative Commons

If you could be given any gift what would it be?

The gift of greater knowledge of God.

What do you do if you can’t sleep at night? Do you count sheep, toss and turn, or get up and try to do something productive?

I actually make up stories. One of my favorite is that I am laying on my bed and it is suddenly in the middle of space. I am a watcher looking in on another world and all its goings on. Weird huh?

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photo by Andrew Caldwell

Optional 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 that God has given me an answer as to whether I am to pursue the lead pastorate at Cornerstone Church now that our current lead, Pastor Risto, has answered a call back in his native Canada. I am grateful that I was able to share that answer with the congregation at Cornerstone on Sunday morning. I am not to pursue that position in case you were wondering.

I am looking forward to the search which is about to take place for our new lead pastor. I am looking forward to meeting our new interim pastor.

I feel a little like Galadriel having defeated her inner battle to take the One Ring Of Power.

Ok maybe it is not quite that grand or scary but…

 

Share Your World April 17th, 2017

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Share your World is a weekly blog challenge hosted by Cee Neuner from Portland Oregon. Every week she asks five questions and in answering them our worlds are shared. If you would like to participate in Share Your World or read about the world’s of others click

HERE.

Now here are this week’s questions and my answers.

When writing by hand do you prefer to use a pencil or pen?

I prefer a pen though about two years ago I pinched a nerve in my neck. I was actually unable to do much of anything with my hand for about six months after that. I had to stop playing the piano and writing by hand. Today I am restored but if I write to long by hand I find my fingers still go numb.

Would you rather be an amazing dancer or an amazing singer?

I love singing and could not imagine giving it up for the dance. I am a terrible dancer and for the most part I don’t mind that.

If you were on a debate team, what subject would you relish debating?

Debate team? The very idea mortifies me. I am not much of a debater. I am a drop the idea out there and leave it for people to pick up or not. I hate debating over ideas particularly in today’s heated climate. It seldom produces anything good.

What are you a “natural” at doing?

I am a natural musician and I like to think a natural writer.

Optional 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 for  wonderful Good Friday and Easter services. Good Friday was one of the most powerful services I have been to on Easter weekend.

I am looking forward to playing two concerts this week.

Share Your World 4-10-17

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Spring is springing and so from my little corner of the world I am rejoicing at the opportunity to SHARE MY WORLD THIS WEEK!  

Share Your World, is a weekly writing challenge in which our hostess Cee asks five questions. In answering them we, her contributors, share our worlds.

This week’s questions and my answers are below. To find a wider sharing audience click the underlined link above and you will be whisked to the main page of SHARE YOU WORLD.

Have you ever participated in a distance walking, swimming, running, or biking event? Tell your story.

I have participated in several walk-a-thons to benefit mission projects. All of them were during my youth pastoring days. Our project was generally Speed-The-Light which is a missions organization which provides the tools missionaries need to get to the field and to do their jobs. Speed- The -Light buys vehicles, boats, planes, sound systems, puppet stages…whatever a missionary needs to accomplish their God given tasks

Name one thing not many people know about you.

I am a flautist.

What is your favorite flower?

I really like the smell of Joe Pye Weed.

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Things I want to have in my home (paintings, hot tubs, book cases, big screen tv etc)

More books and book cases.

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

Spring has finally arrived! It was 80 yesterday!!!!  I am looking forward to Easter and seeing the daffodils pop! 

Share Your World April 3, 2017

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It’s Spring time and sharing time! What could be better. While it is raining outside my window it is warmer than it has been and the snow is all but gone! Hallelujah and that makes me feel like SHARING MY WORLD.

Here are this week’s challenge questions from our hostess Cee. After you have read my answers click the underlined link and see how others from across the world  have answered the same questions.

What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?

I like to cut wood by hand. It’s slower but somehow more satisfying. I also like to bake without the help of electronics: no mixers or food processors, just good old fashioned elbow grease, knives and a whisk.

What’s your favorite genre of book or movie?

I love fantasy. Here is the series I am currently reading

Song of the Sea Spirit by K.C. May  Call of the Colossus by K.C. MayVerse of the Vanguard by K.C. May  Requiem of Reprisal by K.C. May  Dirge of the Dormant (The Mindstream Chronicles Book 5)

 

How often do you people watch?

Whenever I go to the mall. Which means at Christmas.

What have you only recently formed an opinion about?

My future. I think I’m still in process on this one but I have some definite leanings.

Optional 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 for the rhythm of life I was able to establish last week. I am looking forward to remaining constant at it this week.

Share Your World March 27, 2017

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It’s SHARE YOUR WORLD TIME AGAIN!

Share Your World is the weekly blog challenge where our hostess Cee asks five questions. IN answering them we, her contributors, share our world.

You can join in the fun by clicking the underlined link above.

Here are her questions and my answers.

Does your first or middle name have any significance (or were you named after another family member)?

My middle name is Elon. It is a family name stretching back to at least the revolution and apparently was a middle name even further back because there are lots of _____________ Elon Lillies throughout the world.

Music or silence while working?

I like to have soft instrumental music playing in the background while I am writing.

Lately Dappytkeys has been my goto.

If you had a special place for your three most special possessions (not including photos, electronics, people or animals), what would they be?

my electronic piano (which is currently in my office)

My Great Great Aunt’s tea set (which is also currently at my office)

My llama (which I currently don’t own but who doesn’t want a llama…or a pushmepullyou)

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Okay yes these are animals but I couldn’t resist. I suppose if I had to choose an innanimate object that goes along with the llama I would say my spinning wheel which I also don’t own or know how to use, but if I had a llama I might learn.

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The Never List: What are things you know you never will do?

I will never truly die. This body may fade and pass away but I have a new one waiting for me in Heaven.

I will never run out of love for Jesus. He has done so much for me. How can I but praise Him?

Pretty much that is all I can think of. There are a lot of things I would not think of doing but at this point in my life I have learned to never say never because I have gone through a lot of things and done a lot of things I said I would never do.

Optional 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 that I got to see Beauty and the Beast. What a great movie! And this week I am just having a lot of fun working on the book.

Share Your World March 20, 2017

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It is time once again to share in one of my favorite challenges on the blogosphere. Every week our hostess at SYW asks us five questions and as we share our answers we also share our worlds.

To see how everyone answered the questions GO HERE.

Here are the questions and my answers:

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 

I am not sure of an exact age in years but today I would say old enough to know better. Tomorrow I will probably go back to feeling like an old soul but today i just feel dumb and inexperienced.

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So, you’re on your way out and it’s raining. Do you know where your umbrella is or do you frantically search for it all over your apartment/house?

Nope. I don’t search for it at all because I know it’s in my car where it is doing me absolutely no good.

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Do you recharge your energy by going out with friends for a good time or by spending with quiet time alone?

In order to recharge my batteries I need to stay in my room and either sleep or read a book. I use to think watching TV was reenergizing. I am learning otherwise.

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Name three things you and your spouse, partner or best friend  to have in common.

We both like music. We are both worship leaders. We are both going to be 50 this year.

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

I had a great time at our monthly outreach concerts last week. We brought worship communion and the word to almost seventy people. Praise God. This week I am looking forward to getting new drum heads for our churches Alesis DM10 drum kit.

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Share Your World March 13th, 2017

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I am here to share my world with all of you once again! Share Your World is a weekly challenge hosted by Cee of Cee’s photography. In the challenge she asks five weekly questions and as we answer those questions we share our worlds.

FIND OTHER WORLDS TO SHARE HERE

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK AND MY ANSWERS

Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

I do push that button more than once and then I push the door closed button for good measure. I have never thought of myself as an impatient person. This question has me reevaluating that .

Do you plan out things usually or do you do them more spontaneous (for example if you are visiting a big city you don’t know?)

My whole life is scheduled but when I go away I slow down the scheduling significantly. I am a boring vacationer preferring to rest and maybe do one special thing a day planned around scheduled naps.

Describe yourself in at least four uplifting words.

Solid, Contented, Listener, Focused.

If you had a choice which would be your preference salt water beaches, fresh water lakes, ocean cruise, hot tub, ski resort or desert? 

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Optional 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 had my daughter’s help shoveling the snow yesterday.

I have such good kids!

This next week I am looking forward to the start of Spring…by faith.

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