God's Will??? or mine ????

Yes guys, I am still wrestling with where Denise and I are supposed to be and what we are to be doing. I remember in high school, the question of what to do “when you grow up” permeated my thoughts and plans.  Forty + years later, that same question burns in my mind.  What have I accomplished in all that time? I do not see much. It is true that I have DONE a lot of things and have FINALLY found my true mate in life (although THAT took many years as well). As I reflect back on my achievements, the list is really quite short. I have managed to survive day to day (many times purely by the grace of God) . My time in the service did have it’s peaks and valleys, but as for a legacy …. Not much. Since finding Denise, I have been blessed with the family that I have desired complete with 6 wonderful grandchildren. But even these were granted by “proxy” and not my own achievement.

Please join with me in prayer for resolution to this dilemma. I am truly thankful for all of God’s gifts in my life, I only wish I had shown better management of the time I have been granted and a more visible and comfortable basis for these latter years

May God Bless You and Yours

Gene

You can also follow me on Twitter @gkelley58

FW: Don't be a Hater

Finally, brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. & what you learned & received & heard & saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8 - 9 (NET)

Think on the POSITIVE not the NEGATIVES ...Don't be a Hater

This may be my favorite scripture verse(s). Too many times we are guilty of seeing the worse in people and situations. Paul reminds us that we will find what we look for and our reality is shaped by our attitudes in challenges.  I know it is easier said than done (BELIEVE me I know), but that should be our goal.

By focusing our thoughts and energies on the positives, we can change our situations to a more palatable one. If not the actual circumstance, at least we can muster the energy to get through. Winston Churchill once said, “ If you are going through Hell – Keep going.” Another good suggestion. The only thing that endures time without changing is the our LORD. Everything else will come and go. We will see rain so that we may enjoy the sunshine. Do not be like the “hater” that complains about the rain and then complains that the sun is too hot. There can always be a negative spin on things. That is the easy thing to see. The challenge sometimes is finding the positive in a difficult time.

And the God of Peace will be with you …. That is promise worth holding on to !!!!

May God Bless You and Yours

Gene

You can also follow me on Twitter @gkelley58

HAPPY New Year??? your choice

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

We are hearing almost every day of mass shootings in malls and other public places. Our elected leaders are being personally attacked both physically and verbally in almost every venue possible. To what end is this insanity taking our society? I believe and support free speech and individual ideas and the freedom to disagree on any value, but I am ALSO convinced that my (and your) rights to personal expression of freedoms stop when it infringes on someone else. Where has the days of social courtesy and “plain ol’ good manners” gone? Have we tossed away all forms of respect?

We must respect all persons, prince or pauper. Each soul has something to offer. We are all teachers of life as well as students. NO one should sit higher at GOD’s side than another because NO ONE is worthy. It is only by Grace that we are even allowed in HIS presence. The backbiting and jealousy amongst us all will destroy Believers quicker than any outside religious “crusade” or terrorist bomb.  

I have been remiss in posting, lately . I apologize for this negligence. The holidays have come and gone. We have a brand New Year at our feet. Each of us have a clear path (or at least the opportunity to pursue our path) ahead. Will 2011 be one of victory or tragedy? I believe the answer is in each of us as individuals.  Will we fill our hearts and minds with light or darkness? Will we embrace Love or Hatred? The choice is ours. I have heard it said that one person cannot make a dent in society, I disagree. If a lot of “one persons” commit to change, that will make up a major dent in society because society is made up of each of us and what we will allow and what we refuse to allow. By embracing the darkness, we cultivate more darkness. By fueling hatred, we grow more hatred. We can only fight this negativity with Love and Light.

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. (NET)

Apathy allows the aggressor, the adversary,  to advance. I think that is what The Apostle Peter is saying in the above verse. We have to be vigilant and pro-active in our dealings with each other and not allow inappropriate attitudes and actions (from ourselves or others) defeat our “good sense”.

I try very hard to avoid formal “New Year’s Resolutions”. We should be in a continual spirit of self-examination and directional corrections. BUT I challenge every reader of this humble posts to resolve to make their personal circle of influence shine with Love and Light, instead of Hatred and Darkness. Whether you rub shoulders with saints or sinners, leaders or followers, we can make a difference in our own life and those nearest us.

What do YOU think?

Until next time …

May God Bless You and Yours

Gene

You can also follow me on Twitter @gkelley58

Lest We Forget

Image by Antony Pranata via Flickr

This is Remembrance Week. As a Proud Veteran, I salute those who gave their all for the cause of Freedom, under whatever Flag they fought, WE are the recipient of their sacrifice. 

So as you travail through your day, look around at all the blessings you have and then shake the hand of a veteran because it is THEY that have served so that you could benefit.

I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~ Voltaire,

Image via Wikipedia

In Flanders Fields Poem

By:  Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Image via Wikipedia

May God Bless You and Yours

Gene

You can also follow me on Twitter @gkelley58

Is this God's Calling or my own ambition?

I have a dilemma.

As most of you know, things are not going very smoothly in my life right now. Denise and I are under a lot of financial stress (not an uncommon occurrence in today’s world, I know) and I seem to be unable to find a significant source of income in the standard corporate dimension. I am not trying to sound like a whiner or a “poor is me” party host, but I am seeking a path in my life where I can fulfill my perceived “calling” while also making a contribution to my family’s financial security. So I am asking YOUR help and opinions/suggestions/advice on how I should proceed in this search.  But first,  please allow me to give you some background and color on this “journey”. -  A life resume, if you will,  that has been shaded with personal thoughts and observations.

I am seeking a challenging & rewarding leadership opportunity that will utilize my diverse & extensive practical and professional experience to enhance the performance of people with a diverse background  to the benefit of themselves and those around them. My military discipline & corporate compassion lends to a unique balanced & winning combination style of instruction and training  highlighted by motivation, dedication, enthusiasm & team spirit. The diverse scope of my exposure has allowed me to develop a management and delivery style that includes “big picture” perspectives & “outside the box” solutions.  I attempt to mix my spiritual ideals  with practical applications, without pressing others to adopt my religious affiliations. My greatest joy is seeing the “ah-ha” moment in someone’s eyes when they achieve a step toward their goals. I also believe that success is a journey – not a destination. My personal goal is to help people carve through the illusion of happiness and achieve the “Real-Thing” (not Coca-Cola – haha).

One of the paths that I like is as a counselor/life coach. I have checked out a few of these programs and there are quite a few good ones out there. Merna Throne’s Pocket of Pearls Life Coaching Program . She is quite enthusiastic and sincere about helping to make this world and the people in it a better place for us all.  I would love to do something very similar to this targeting those who cannot normally afford this expertise and assistance. I am not saying a social worker per say (too much governmental interference) , but maybe a combination of Pastor, Confidante, Counselor, Philosopher and Job Recruiter. The challenges I have in this area is that (as a pastor) I am not qualified (limited education AND divorced). The other points are obstructed by the ignorance of applying my skill and experience as a business. I would love to be able to “make a living” doing this but I just do not know how. I know formal education and certifications cost $$ and that is another challenge at this point in my life. Heck, we do good to pay the bills AND buy groceries or other life necessities.

I believe that I am being led to this field of assistance, but my concern is WHO is doing the leading. Is it GOD or Gene? Is this a true calling or is it a selfish ambition?  Whatever the answer may be, I am certain that the correct path of life will INCLUDE a mechanism to allow me to provide for the financial needs and responsibilities of my family.

You would think that with all my technical training and my life experiences that I would have a easy time finding adequate income. But , as many of you know, times are a’changin and some of the choices I have made in the past have seriously handicapped my options (at least within my circle of understanding). This is where YOU come in …. I believe that engaging more than one point of view and multiple intellectual processing, we can find a good solution to almost any challenge.

If you have anything to contribute or suggestions/advice to offer, I am available through email , Facebook or Twitter and greatly appreciate and respect your thoughts.

Thanks for your attention and input

May God Bless You and Yours

Gene

You can also follow me on Twitter @gkelley58

The GOSPEL of an 8 year old

Here is a repeat of a CLASSIC post I found on the Internet.  Too many time we adults try to complicate the simplest things.

Luke 18:15 – 17 Now people were even bringing their babies to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them. But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Out of the Mouths of Babes
This was written by an 8 year old, Danny Dutton of Chula Vista, CA, for his third grade homework assignment. The assignment was to explain God.

Explanation Of God

"One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers."

"God’s second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off."

"God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t go wasting His time by going over your Mom and Dad’s head asking for something they said you couldn’t have."

"Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren’t any who come to our church."

"Jesus is God’s Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him. But He was good and kind, like His Father and He told His Father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K."

"His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn’t have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important."

May God Bless You and Yours

Gene

You can also follow me on Twitter @gkelley58

My Little MagLite

Image via Wikipedia

John 8:12 (NET)  Then Jesus spoke out again,“I am the light of the world.²¹ The one who follows me will never²² walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Image via Wikipedia

I carry a mini-Maglite on my belt. It is not a big tool (only about 4 inches long and weights practically nothing). It is inconspicuous and is normally not even noticed.  This has become a habit that I acquired as a Sailor and carried throughout my experiences as a hardware technician. I hardly notice it is there when it is daylight or there is enough light to see whatever it is I am doing.. If I have to look in a dark place, I KNOW where it is, and I can activate a beam of light that will allow me to do the required job and/or find my way to a greater source of light.  Another great thing about this little light I carry is that I can also use it to provide illumination for someone else at the same time it shines for me. Sometime even I do not make a conscious effort to guide the way, someone “lost” in the darkness can use that little light as a beacon to find their way back to their intended path or maybe to see an obstacle that they can easily avoid.  Often we do not even realize that it the light that enables us to dodge hazards or allows us to find what we are seeking, but just imagine that if the light was not there …. 

Here is a simple exercise that may illustrate how light allows us to perform even the easiest, most routine things.:

Close your eyes (or blindfold yourself)for several minutes and try to go about your daily activities. You do not have to attempt anything extraordinary. Even doing things that you would normally do with little or no effort, you will soon become disoriented and confused. Things will not make sense and you may even find yourself in a predicament that could cause harm. Imagine a blind person going through an unknown place. They move slow and often bump into obstacles in the way.

Light also is not prejudice. It does not just shine on the good things. It also illuminates bad things that allows us to see and choose which path we want to travel. But it DOES illuminate those choices. Light reflects off of all things, regardless of its purpose. We have been given the wisdom and knowledge to intelligently make those choices and reap the consequences (rewards or penalties) .

In a dark world, not everyone has their own light. Sometimes the only light available is someone else’s little “mini-MagLite”.  By using YOUR light, you may unknowingly be lighting the path for someone else to find their way.  Too many times, we act as though we are the only ones experiencing trails and troubles that we often forget that others may be looking at us for an example in their lives as well. When I was at sea, I learned that even the dimmest light can been spotted several miles away on a dark night. That is why smoking on the deck of a ship after dark is not allowed. The enemy can spot even the fire from a cigarette on the horizon. While  this may be hazardous during wartime, this principle may be quite useful if searching for survivors on the open seas. The dimmest light may allow the rescue of lost sailors that would otherwise become memories.

Image via Wikipedia

Regardless of if my Light is used or nit, if I do not recharge the batteries in my little Mag-lite, it becomes dim and useless.  I have to periodically put the batteries on the charger and it becomes bright once again.

Image via Wikipedia

John 14:16-17 (NET)   Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever –  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.

As a BELIEVER, we carry the Holy Spirit in our hearts. He waits within us and quietly stands “at the ready” to illuminate our paths and guide us to the Source of Light. We are also able to use HIS light to illuminate the way for others the same way my little “Mag-lite” does. I must also “recharge” my batteries, by studying and meditating on our SOURCE of power – GOD’S HOLY WORD. We must also be aware that our light also shines on those that are otherwise stuck in the darkness. We MUST be positive examples of GOD’S Love in everything we do, regardless of if it religious or not. Every aspect of our activities (and non-activities) reflect the source of our light. The only question is if we are pointing at the right or wrong path ??

I am VERY interested in your point of view and LOVE reading and reposting the comments you send my way…

Have a wonderful and Blessed weekend

May God Bless You and Yours

Gene

You can also follow me on Twitter @gkelley58