Tag Archives: Share your world

Share Your World 2015 Week #47

Posted on by under For Family & Fun, Uncategorized

share-your-world2I’m a day late getting back into the game this week. I have been trying to make sure I get a full 24 hours off every week and this week I needed it. I slept almost 12 solid hours from Sunday into Monday and then spent most of the rest of my time lying on the couch too tired to do anything. Yesterday I hoped to hop right back into it. I even came in to the office an hour and half before anyone else to get a jump on things. E-mails and paperwork followed by two meetings, a concert and a rehearsal kept me away from the blogosphere for the entire day. By the time I stopped I had little mind space left for writing. The good news is I did get to work on the novel for a bit before the day went crazy.

But here I am once again an hour and a half before the crowd and launching into the blogosphere by SHARING MY WORLD. Cee’s questions are below and as always you can find a diversity of answers to them by clicking on the underlined link and launching yourself into Ceeland.

In your native language which letter or character describes you best?  Why?

“J” of course because that is my name. Well actually it is Joseph but I am the 5th in line and my son is the 6th so we all have nicknames: My great-grandfather was Joseph; My grandfather was Joe; My father was Jack; I’m J, and my son is Joey.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I am not a very extravagant person. I guess it would have to be eating out. I really like Italian food. Going to the movies is a close second. Oh, I suppose you could put travel in there somewhere. I try to go on a trip every couple of years.

Do you prefer exercising your mind or your body? How frequently do you do either?

I would rather exercise my mind than my body. I try to do both every day. I always get some mental gymnastics in. If I exercise physically three times a week right now I consider that a success

List at least 5 things that makes you laugh.

My kids100_1033

My sister100_1786

My dogs

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My Pastor Christmas hatr 5

My church family100_3866-001

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 last Friday I got so much time to write. This week I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and my birthday! The kids are coming and we are having turkey dinner and cake. What could be better?

Share Your World 2015 Week 46

Posted on by under For Family & Fun, Uncategorized

I am coming back into the blogging world after a brief Sabbath. I am beginning this week of writing by sharing a piece of my world with all of you using my friend Cee’s forum.

Every week Cee asks five questions that connect people across the blogosphere together. You can see how all Cee’s contributors answered by clicking HERE.

My own answers are written between the bold questions below.

What type of popular candy you do not like to get?

I am NOT A FAN  of black licorice. My daughter often likes to trick me when we go to the movies. She will get me a box of Raisinets and herself a box of Good N Plenty. While I am not looking she will slip a few Good N Plentys in with my chocolate raisins and in the dark I often don’t recognize the difference until the hateful tasting objects are in my mouth.

What do you feel is the most enjoyable way to spend $500? 

I think a weekend away at a hotel with a great view and a hot tub is the best way to spend $500.00. Maybe I am just craving a vacation.

Where do you eat breakfast?

At home usually at the dining table. Sometimes in front of the TV watching the morning news.

Would you rather ride one of the worlds longest zip lines or bungee jump one of the highest in the world? This will come with a 5-day all expense vacation.

Longest Zip line. Bungees are out. I cannot bear the thought of falling all that way before bouncing back up. I think 5 days in the mountains would be a lot of fun. If this happened then I would change my answer to question number two and I would spend the $500.00 on books.

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 a wonderful weekend of ministry. Saturday was Special Touch, a wedding and load in for the Cashman’s. Sunday Jonathan and Brittany Cashman ministered in three services at Cornerstone Church.

This week I am looking forward to ministering at the local Visiting Nurses Dayhab and then catching up on all the admin I have been missing.

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Share Your World 2015 Week #45

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

It is time to SHARE OUR WORLD again. Cee has asked us five questions as usual.

My answers are below and the rest of the world has answered on Cee’s page. So check her place out by clicking the underlined link above to learn a little about a lot of people!

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What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fun”?

Fun!?! I think life is fun. I think all that I get to do as a minister is fun. Oh sometimes I get bogged down by the volume of the work but most times I cannot believe I get paid to do the wonderful things I do. Life is one adventure after another. It is fun!

What is your favorite time of day?

I love waking up. I try to do it slowly and when I succeed I love those first moments of coming really awake and then progressing towards that first cup of morning coffee. I especially like it if I am up before the rest of the world. There is something special about drinking coffee as the sun rises and the rest of the world comes alive.

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want to have an evening with?

That’s easy I would spend an evening with each of my children in turn followed by an evening with all of them together. I guess that’s four evenings but it will have to do. 🙂

Complete this sentence: Something that anyone can do that will guarantee my smile is… 

Join me in worship.

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 start really writing again. I am looking forward to continuing at a little bit of a slower pace so that I can keep writing!

Share Your World 2015 Week #43

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

I am late getting out of the gate this week. I’ve been at Minister’s Retreat since Monday and posting was not given as an option in my time allotments.

So today is a catch-up day in the office. I have unloaded all the musical equipment I took to lead worship from  the van. I have caught up on some of my reading and even a few e-mails. I have a catch-up meeting with my lead pastor, an office to clean and worship rehearsal to prep for but I thought I would take a few moments to answer the questions from Cee’s Share Your World Post before I got started.

Here are the questions:

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

I would love to debate theology.

What’s your strongest sense?

I think hearing is my strongest sense though as I age I do notice that changing. Then again, all my other senses are changing too so I guess it would still be hearing.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

The Quiet Life Of a Country Pastor: A Divine Comedy

List your favorite flavors or types of tea.

I love fruit teas especially peach, lemon and orange.

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 my lead pastor is back in the office after a month away on family leave. I am looking forward to November being a normal month where I am just normally not insanely busy.

Share Your World 2015 Week #42

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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 #41

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

Sharing time again folks!

Our hostess Cee from Oregon posts five questions we answer them and voila the world is shared.

In fact why don’t you check out answers from around the world by clicking on this link right here.

BUT FIRST HERE ARE MY ANSWERS!

What genre of music do you like?

I like classical, country and jazz but what I listen to most is Indie worship on Spotify. I love me some Brian and Katie Torwalt

What is the worst thing you ate this last week?

Last week was a week of what I would call functional eating. Which means I ate to live and keep running the engine but honestly I don’t remember any meal from last week which probably means I ate a lot of pop tarts and peanut butter toast. This week promises to be about the same. I see a lot of ramen in my future.

Would you like to be famous?  In what way?

Not really. I am Okay with my current level of fame. There is a price that comes with popularity and it is truly a fickle thing.

Complete this sentence:  This sandwich could really use some …

mayonnaise. Most everything is better with mayonnaise except of course peanut butter and cookies and pudding and well…. Most sandwiches are better with mayonnaise. 😉

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 preach again last week at Cornerstone church. This week I am looking forward to our 5th annual C.cada art show. My sister and I are performing on Friday night.

Share Your World 2015 Week 40

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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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

HERE

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 38

Posted on by under C.cada: Arts and Stuff

It’s that time again folks. Cee has asked her questions and we can but answer. My answers to the questions are below and Cee’s other friends have answered HERE. You have only to click on the underlined word and you will be whisked away to Cee-Land a most beautiful place…really!

Here are my answers:

What do you do to make a living or during the day if you are retired.  If you are a student what are you studying?

I am the assistant pastor at Cornerstone Church in Winchendon MA. My portfolio includes worship and the arts as well as Prayer and Compassion ministries. To that end I run C. cada a Christian artist’s collaborative. The goal of C.cada is to help people discover, develop and deploy their God-given gifts in the church and in the community.

I am also a founding member of Special Touch R.E.A.C.H. New England a chapter of Special Touch Ministries based out of Wisconsin. The goal of this ministry is to bring the gospel message to the disabled community.

Basically I spend my days meeting and training teams of people to reach other people with the love of Jesus through prayer, compassion and the arts

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

I have done walk- a- thons to raise money for missions. there is no real story there. I walked and people gave me money to give to missionaries. The end. 🙂

What is usually your first thought when you wake up? 

“Good morning Lord. Do I really need to get out of bed? It is really warm in here and really cold out there.”

Complete this sentence: Look out behind you, it’s a …

Falling tree! I really don’t know where that came from. It is just the first thing that crossed my mind. No one I know has ever been squashed by a tree. I don’t think I have ever even seen a tree fall.

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 my editor Tracy sent the prologue of my story back complete with edits to be made. Now to work. I am looking forward to the Toy Town Fall Fest which C.cada, Prayer Shawl Ministry and Special Touch R.E.A.C.H. New England are participating in this weekend! I

Share Your World 2015 Week 37

Posted on by under For Family & Fun

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.