Social Networking – Part Two

On April 27, 2008 (two posts ago) I explained a little of what we now know of SOCIAL Networking…

This is part two….

Wikipedia describes Social Networking as using software to build Social Networks. Some of the examples that are given in the definition are - Popular methods now combine many of these, with MySpace and Facebook being the most widely used in North America, Bebo, MySpace, Skyrock Blog , Facebook and Hi5 in parts of Europe, Orkut and Hi5 in South America and Central America, Friendster, Orkut and CyWorld in Asia and the Pacific Islands.

And all of these plus another 1900 (as of April 2008) are used by anyone that wants to – anywhere. You could conceivably be in each group – everywhere – all the time.

It is not just for young teenagers – old people are here by the millions as well. In one popular group called Facebook, they are adding 100 – 125 thousand people per day – or over 1 million per week. One half of the people on Facebook are over 35 years old and over 100 Thousand are over 64 years of age!

I use Skype, a computer program to talk and communicate with people - anywhere. It is free. At any one time when I use it, from 6:00 AM through to 7:30 AM – there are about 7 to 12 million other people using it at the same time.

Do these figures stagger your mind? They rock me. It is hard to fathom this when my “real world” might have six contacts a day. Or in the case of a quiet day at the office when no one is sick or in trouble – I get none – zero – zip – nada – nothing – no phone calls.

In my computer world I am rocked by the contacts.

A few years ago AOL, a computer service provider, had a clever little sound bite that said, “You’ve got mail..”. We could never have that happen today – most of us have buckets of email that drive us crazy with that kind of voice in the background. Add to that Facebook that has become a secondary(maybe even primary) conversation tool… then YouTube with its comments section…. And it takes time from an already busy day.

I came across an interesting fact – 68% of the people that go to YouTube spend more than 6 minutes a day watching videos in the USA. I know from personal experience in the YouTube video work that is almost impossible to get on (or very slow) right after school gets out during each day… and again in the evening after the kids go to bed. First the younger population is on and then second the older population takes over the family computer when the kids are not there.

So how does Social Networking affect our people…?

Well – one thing you should notice – it takes time to communicate with everyone. Just like a “real visit” with a face to face communication it takes time. The difference is that you do not have to travel to talk to some one….you click on and you’re good to go. And add to that you can talk with two or more people at the same time.

But the difficulty is that with too many communications at the same time the quality of the actual things being exchanged or shared drops. Your mind can only receive one thing at a time. We have to move from one conversation to the next. Sometimes we will miss what someone is saying because the conversation is too intense in another area.

Problem 1
We have “real relationships” – i.e. husband and wife relationships suffering from “Social Networking-itis”. A wife can talk to her husband while he is at the computer and he will not hear her – even when she sits beside him! Problem one – “real communication” drops off to nothing.

I know a husband and wife that email each other, or Facebook each other from two different rooms in the same house. They do not talk. When they drive somewhere, in a car alone, they do not talk. They are both thinking about what they will say next when they are back at their computer – to their friends.

Problem 2
People are addicted to their “Social Networking” and to Computers in general. China is the first country to force their people into Computer Addiction Recovery Groups. If someone deems that a person is being deeply affected by his or her use of computers and it is felt that they are addicted – they are forced into a program to de-program them.

Problem 3
There was a period of time when we heard the horror stories of men or women that “met someone” on an internet chat room and then left their mate for that new “special someone”.

The newer problem that is surfacing, people are having affairs from a keyboard without hurting anyone else. They do not leave physically. They have given all their time, their energy, their emotion and their whole being to the person that they think they know on the other end of the computer connections.

The “real relationship” that they so much enjoyed is no longer satisfying.

Problem 4
The excessive use of the computer has robbed some of their quality time with God himself.

Along time ago – in fact the first story of “Social Networking” that I know was that of Adam and God in a marvelous garden called Eden. They walked and talked together until Adam and Eve (or was it Eve and Adam) messed it up. If you know the story – Adam was naked – no clothes and no computer. And God and Adam talked.

Place the story of Adam and God in today’s world… Adam would be buying the biggest, fastest, coolest and cleanest computer and God would be looking at his watch in the Garden – Adam would be a “no show”.

Am I concerned? You better believe it. I am concerned what computers have done to me – not you. I have to limit my usage – just like everyone else. And it is hard.

As much as I appreciate you taking time to read this – please stop now and go to talk to a real person. Walk and talk with you husband or wife. Call someone on a regular telephone and see if they will leave their keyboard and go for a tea or coffee.

For goodness sake try the “REAL WORLD” it is filled with real people that need a little of your time.

For God’s sake – talk to HIM today. He is waiting for you and me. Yesterday or the day before we were both “No shows”. He is wanting to listen to you.

One last thing – God is not on Facebook, there are no YouTube videos of him and he has yet to get an email address. He responds quickly to “Hi God”, “Are you there?”, “Help!” and any other thing you might throw out there. The conversation will flow from that. Trust me.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Social Networking - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking

God on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God

Taking Canada for Granted

By Bruce Lindsay

What beautiful weather we’ve been having. Have you been getting outside and enjoying it?

This week, on May 2nd I am leading a group of young Korean men into the bush for a canoe trip. You might think I’m crazy. When you know the whole story you will know I’m crazy.

Here’s the story.
Calvin is a young Korean guy, 22 years old, who has been living with our family as he attended Trent University for English as a Second Language (ESL). He finished school and was planning to take a trip to Cuba with 2 other Korean friends, then fly home and look for a job and start a career. He may propose to his girlfriend soon, he tells me.

Earlier this month, I mentioned that I'd have a few free days at the end of this week, and I’d like to take him on a canoe trip before he leaves. He wanted to go! In fact he was so excited he could hardly contain himself.

Later, I learned that Calvin cancelled his trip to Cuba to come along with me. He told Dana, my wife, all this over dinner one evening. His friends were very disappointed. Not disappointed that Calvin wasn’t going to Cuba with them, but that they were going to Cuba instead of on a canoe trip. Calvin said they were both wishing they had an opportunity like his.

I was blown away!

Not only was I shocked that Calvin would rather rough it in the bush with me than holiday in Cuba, but that 2 other guys felt the same way. I told him that if they wanted to go that badly, then he should invite them along. I don’t mind having extra people with us.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the past week. I’ve had to start making plans. What route should I take? I doubt these guys are strong swimmers or canoeists. I don’t know if they have any outdoor skills at all. It might be like taking three 7 year old kids – albeit kids who are strong enough to carry the packs and canoes through the portages. I need to be sure they don’t tip their canoe because the water will be very cold! People have warned me that there may still be ice on some of the lakes. It might be very cold at night. There might be tons of black-flies.

The ground might be too wet. The wood might be too wet.

There might be a fire-ban. There are many reasons to worry. Many reasons to think I’m crazy.

But I can’t wait!

I’ve checked (no fire-ban, no ice in the lake), nothing but cold water, possible rain and possible below seasonal temperatures. Who cares!

Let’s go!

How many people reading this have never gone on a canoe trip? How many have never experienced the beauty we have in Canada – for free! How many have instead, spent thousands of dollars to go to some beach somewhere south. The more I think about it the more I feel that these boys are doing the wise thing. There will always be beaches in hot places. But there might not always be places you can canoe into and not see another soul.

Camping near a waterfall; silently paddling near a loon or trying to catch up to a swiftly swimming otter; letting the river take you downstream, as you pass some deer, alertly watching you go; being woken up by birdsongs; being sung to sleep by the lullaby of owls, frogs, crickets and the nearby waterfall. This may be their only chance in their lives to experience these things. I’ve experienced them before, but I keep wanting more. These young men are in for a trip they will never forget. It will be difficult. It will be bracing. It may leave them feeling sore and tired. But it will be so very worth the effort.

Don’t take Canada for granted. Camping may not be your thing, I know. (My wife’s idea of roughing it is opening a window.) But I want to encourage you to step outside. Drive a little north. Stand near the water. If you dare to take a step further, step into a canoe. Paddle hard! Work until your arms are sore! See how fast you can go. Break a sweat! Sing out loud. And you will begin to feel the joy of les coureur-de-bois.

“What sets a canoeing expedition apart is that it purifies you more rapidly and inescapably than any other travel. Travel a thousand miles by train and you are a brute; pedal five hundred on a bicycle and you remain basically a bourgeois; paddle a hundred in a canoe and you are already a child of nature.” – Pierre Elliott Trudeau

For 24 years I was a light canoeman. I required but little sleep, but sometimes got less than I required. No portage was too long for me; all portages were alike. My end of the canoe never touched the ground 'til I saw the end of it. Fifty songs a day were nothing to me. I could carry, paddle, walk and sing with any man I ever saw... I pushed on - over rapids, over cascades, over chutes; all were the same to me. No water, no weather ever stopped the paddle or the song... There is no life so happy as a voyageur's life; none so independent; no place where a man enjoys so much variety and freedom as in the Indian country. Huzza, huzza pour le pays sauvage! - Anonymous coureur-de-bois quoted by a Hudson's Bay Co. historian.

Can You Duet?

As I surfed the Channels I stumbled on to a very unusual TV program. It was called “Can You Duet?” Yes – for sure – all about singing Duets…and it was on a ‘Country and Western’ TV channel… “CMT”.

Some of my friends will already be snickering at that statement. They know me and I don’t do “Country Music” unless it is real late at night and I am driving a very long, long ways – then the story line of the Country stuff will keep me a wake in the car… “Your cheating heart…will tell on youuuu…”

Your cheatin' heart will make you weep
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won't come the whole night through
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you
When tears come down like fallin' rain
(words to a Country and Western Song see reference below)

Back to the Duet…
The CMT program featured amateur, country singers coming on to the program as a Duet. They sang wonderfully or painfully to a panel of three judges – who then said the words and they were either voted out of in – not necessarily together. Once or twice the judges select one of the two to allow that person to go on…knocking the other partner out.

WOW – a country western talent show that is like “Survivor” mixed with “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” – but with a ‘twang or two’.

There were the two ladies that had worked as janitors in a church, made a decision to enter “Can You Duet?” and were then fired from their jobs because they had done so. “Dumb church officials/minister…” was the feeling that you got from that little story.

There were two cousins – one young one old… the old guy was voted off/out and the young cousin was allowed to go on.

Then there were the brother and sister act…he played a base fiddle and she a guitar…and they sang about their ‘daddy being in prison’…but explained first to the three judges that he hadn’t really been in prison and didn’t have 18 kids like the song said…

Now DU you get the idea about DUET… “Do it…”? I know I have just caused my China Friends to nearly burn up their dictionaries and spell check translators with this… shish!
But hey…it is Country Music… and when you listen to Country Music…well it is a different world!

But the best was to come…
In the ‘commercial break’ there was an invitation to come to the CMT.com web site…click on to the site…and get this part… “Don’t just listen to Country Music…LIVE IT!”

“Holy Cow!”
Here was the newest example for me of “Social Networking”. Can you imagine “Social Networking” in country music? You have to believe it. Here is a group of people that are connecting with each other.. “living country music” not just listening to it…connecting over country music. WOW!

This posting is not about my preferences to Country Music of not. It is about our connections in our everyday life 2008. It is about the rapid change that is taking place right under my nose without me ever knowing about it. Social Networking is happening at a speed that none of us has ever experienced before. It was always there and had always been a part of everyone’s life – but MUCH, MUCH, MUCH slower.

This Blog is an example of a “Social Network”. People join me to read what I write. Sometimes the Blog will stir a comment. The comments are possible connectors with others and are made only under great strain by ‘my kind of readers’ up to last month. Suddenly things have started to change. Comments are coming by ‘new members’ from far away…with closer members watching and reading…new people joined the group and we are not sure what to do.

In fact we didn’t even know NEW PEOPLE were in a group.

SOCIAL MARKETING…
Social marketing is a new buzz phrase for sure. Googling it just now I received 42,800,000 results – so it may be new to us but a whole lot of people have been looking into it. Check out the Wikipedia link below re-Social Marketing.

The newest and fastest form of Social Marketing include all the computer related groups that we are joining and taking part in…FaceBook, YouTube, Blogging, Email, and many, many more.

Most people I know now belong to about three – maybe four groups. Others are into more than 12 groups – or even higher…ALL FROM THEIR COMPUTER KEYBOARDS!!!!

They belong to meaningful, virtual worlds that require connecting to on a regular basis…sometimes many times during to the day just to keep up with the flow.

Personally I connect with a group of pastors on a daily basis. Sometimes it is often during the day. I am amazed that some are on as much as they are…posting many times on topics of concern. It is a “virtual world of pastors”. Two weeks from now we are all attending a National Conference in Toronto. It was suggested that we all wear badges that state “PPC” – that is “Pentecostal Pastors of Canada” so we will know who each other is.

Imagine belonging to a group that you know everyone well…but have never met them. 10 years ago that would have never happened!

Too Much Change?
Social Networking and Social Groups have existed for a long time…just not over a computer.

The Children of Israel – the people that followed Moses out of Egypt in the Exodus were the first and greatest Social Network that I can find in the Bible. Then all the stories about their problems and interaction in their Social Network makes up the account of their lives.

Next when you go to the New Testament of the Bible you read of their amazing Social Network.

Through both Social Network stories we see God interacting with them according to accounts given.

Then we form a church – which is another Social Network. But the church only meets once a week. Naturally it has become almost isolated from the fast growing Social Network that most of us have outside of it.

So that opens a whole new topic for me this week. Expect more.

Question today… how many people are in your Social Networks in an average day – including real life connections and computer connections? Can you number them? For me it is about 12 in one group – live… 3 in another group live… 6 in another group live…3 in another group live…185 in another live…

In FaceBook I have 308 and growing each week. YouTube there are many, many, and many…in the PPC there are about 100 guys and gals…and growing.

My eWorld is bigger than my Real World. So is everyone else’s.

Something to think about for sure.

This is NUTS you say! Not so. My spiritual world is virtual world as well – I cannot see God and don’t know what he looks like… yet I talk to him. I have never seen Jesus – yet I talk to him each day and he speaks back to me at times.

Something more to think about…. Hmmmm?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Ray Charles lyrics – Your cheatin’ heart http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/ray_charles/your_cheating_heart.html

http://www.cmt.com/
http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/224592/can-you-duet-ep-2-extras-choose-your-partner-wisely.jhtml
Social Marketing - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_marketing

News Flash - Dan Haley is Losing Weight!

Dan is a big man! Some have said that he is the size he is because he has such a big heart… He does have a big heart for sure. But he also tends to love his food and he is a GREAT COOK. Add to that the stress of an important job and you have a recipe for more pounds than he needs.

Recently Dan Haley began to work at shedding these extra pounds. His work outs begin at 6:30 AM and finish at 9:00 AM. His friends Fernand Samson has been a great encouragement.

Another motivation has been the need that his ministry, Peterborough Community Chaplaincy, has for support and encouragement as well. Together with his Board of Directors, I am asking you to consider supporting Dan’s effort to lose weight by sponsoring him for a few dollars per pound. His goal is lose a minimum of 30 pounds by September 2008.

If you would sponsor him for $10 a pound you would be receipted for $300 toward your Income Tax next year. $50 a pound would be another $1500 going into this vital ministry and so on. Together we could easily reach between $10,000 and $20,000 for Peterborough Community Chaplaincy.

You may be asking what Peterborough Community Chaplaincy is all about and why do they need support?

PCC as we know it – is a vital link between the Federal Prison system and the outside world. When a man is released from one of our prisons in Canada there is a period of transition that it vital for him to receive help. If he gets help – there is a 99% chance he will make it and there will not be anymore victims of crime…without it could and would be much worse.

PCC and Dan Haley provide that invaluable help and safety for each man.

Our hope and desire is to support PCC and also to see Dan come through this as a healthier Chaplain! After all it is Doctor Hardy Friesen’s orders… Thanks Doc for caring enough to offer Dan some tough love. We know that you are and will be proud of him – just like we are…

You go Dan! Go for at least 30 pounds and if you get more we will support you more!

Your friends,
Murray Lincoln and about a 1000 more people that believe in what you are doing!!!!

Meet China – Part One – Land and The Olympics and Politics

Yesterday some of you were introduced to my friend “Land” who lives in China. I am excited about “Land” and his friends connecting with me (and you). It would be wonderful if this Blog could be used to connect the people of many different places.

As some of you know I have traveled to China a number of times in earlier years. I was able to visit a small portion of the south of China. While I was living in Hong Kong this was one of my greatest joys to discover China and travel to some of their cities – and most of all to discover some of their culture. That was way back on 1981 – 1985. It was almost 27 years ago that I my first visit into China.

Today China has changed in so many ways – yet there is a part that never will change. It is complicated for me to explain that statement in a short few words.

I have discovered some amazing, up-to-date facts about China from the National Geographic Magazine Web Site. It is shown below. In its Geopedia section it has collected a series of short articles under the banner of “China by the Numbers”.

The opening statement that Mary McPeak makes is….
“Everything about China is big. Its population, 1.3 billion, is the largest in the world. Its area--3,705,405 square miles (9,596,960 square kilometers)--is the fourth largest, after that of Russia, Canada, and the U.S. And its labor force, with 803,300,000 workers, is the world's largest.”

A few statements that describe the country well today are as follows:

• China’s one-child policy created a generation of only children(only child) that numbers 90 million.
• 119 baby boys are born for every 100 girls.
• The number of unmarried young men – called bare branches – is predicted to be 30 million in 2020.
• 45 percent of Chinese women surveyed say that they do not want to give up their careers to get married.
• Three in ten Chinese families have grandparents living in the same household.
• Beijing enforces a one-dog policy that prohibits pets more than 14 inches high.
• China is expected to overtake the USA as the world’s largest economy in ten years.
• China has the world’s highest number of deaths triggered by air pollution.
• Urban Chinese earn more than three times as much as those in rural areas, the highest income gap since the start of reforms in 1978.
• Public protests rose by 50% last year.
• One in four residents in Beijing is a migrant from the country.
• 67 percent of millionaires surveyed say that they are sacrificing health for money. (source: National Geographic Magazine – may 2008 edition)

Do these figures move you? For “Land” they do. He lives in the middle of it all. He is one of the 1.3 Billion and he lives on a small portion of the 3,705,405 square miles… or to put it another way there are 350 people for every square mile of the country – and much of the country is not the kind you can live on… forests, water, mountains and rivers are all part of the total land mass.
China is crowded.

Personal Pride…
A month ago our family became even more interested in China and particularly Beijing in the month of August 2008. It is during that time that my nephew, Zack Bell, will compete in the Olympics representing Canada. You have to know that I am VERY PROUD of Zack as he represents Canada. I know that he has competed all over the world and that HE IS THE BEST! Now the world will discover how great he really is.

Zach is a cyclist that will be taking part in the unique race in the Velodrome – track cycling event.

Go Zach Bell Go!

Politics…
Now I pause for a minute and ponder the problems that China now faces. Problems of ‘protest’ are difficult for anyone. In leadership I know the feeling. You try hard but no one will listen – they are right and you are wrong.

Lest I have this Blog ‘flamed’ by protestors – I am very careful what I say about Tibet and China. I will say that I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE PROTESTORS AGAINST CHINA! They are going about this whole adventure of trying to expose ‘their ideas of bad practices by China’ – in a wrong way. That is my opinion at least. I protest the protestors and their methods for sure.

In China, long ago, one of their writers and wise men made a powerful statement about China and its culture. He said, “the grass bends as the wind blows”. The meaning is fairly evident I think. A north wind will bend the grass stalk to the south and the south wind will bend it north. The grass is very flexible and continues to bend left, right, front and back all summer and never breaks.

Under the mighty Emperors long before the Chinese people ever heard of Communism, the people were bent and bruised millions of times. Under the communist government there has been a blowing and bending as well. When you read of the oppression of the Emperor’s regimes – the communist era is seen in an entirely different way.

I make a very political statement at this point. I doubt that Democracy will ever improve the conditions of China if it had its way. And I know that Capitalism will do no better.

China’s basic problems of geography, population, vast regions and developing the huge resources will be the same no matter who takes leadership. The challenges dictate the leadership – not the leadership dictating anything.

And the number one problem that China faces is trying to feed the lust of the USA and Canada(and the western world) for “stuff”. Check it out next time you are shopping. Pick up 20 items and see where they all were made. My guess is that at least 85% will be “Made in China”. Now take away everything that is Made in China and see just how bare the shelves would be!

I want the whole world know… China I believe in “You” as a Country and that there is one man in Canada that is praying for your success – his name is “Murray Lincoln”.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Zach Bell’s Uncle and Supporter!

Resources:

National Geographic Magazine - China by the Numbers..
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/geopedia/China

Zach Bell
http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/olympic-hopeful-confident-about-chances-of-qualifying/
http://www.velonorth.ca/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2624&theme=Printer
http://zerailleur.com/blog/archives/134

http://www.topix.com/cycling/zach-bell

Ladies and Gentlemen – This is my friend “Land”

Today I am introducing my friend “Land”. He is one of the many new readers and visitors to this Blog over these past months. “Land” lives in China and attends University at this time. Soon he will travel abroad to study in England. “Land” and I speak to each other using Skype and we also ‘chat’ using our keyboards. It has been a joy getting to know this young man. You will see that he has left comments on this Blog after certain postings.

“Land” and my worlds have certainly changed over these years. From the beginning of my ministry, where I looked after an immediate flock of people as their pastor, to now be reaching around the world from my computer keyboard simply staggers my mind.

At this moment a person from Ghana, in West Africa, is reading the pages of this Blog. His search on the computer took him to a January 2007 posting that I had done. A program on my computer and at our server – has told me that he is looking into our Blog using Microsoft XP, his Monitor Resolution is set at 1024 x 768, and he is using Firefox Mozzilla Browser to read the Blog. My computer tells me all about him.

And just before that a person in Pakistan at a commercial business has been reading a posting I made on December 31, 2007 regarding “Polygamy – Polygyny – Polyandry & Monogamy vs Marriage”. Think of this fact for a moment – a person in an Islamic country is reading a Christian Blog on some touchy subjects. This person’s Google Search was for “sociology polygyny wikipedia” and Google gave them our Blog….and this posting!

At about the same time the person from Pakistan dropped in to read – another person in Kampala, Uganda dropped by and came to read the posting I did on March 19, 2008 about Dr. Charles Ratz…by asking the telling of Google “i am looking for carman pentecostal church ,canada.”

And again – about the same time someone from Lazio, Italy – near Rome – came looking for images of Pioneers. Their request was for “Qui sotto c'è l'immagine nel suo contesto originale nella pagina” On July 2, 2007 I did a posting about my volunteer work at Lang Pioneer Village and had posted an image with that entry of a “Steammonster” – a great steam powered tractor of the old days.

Further… on March 22. 2006, the second month of our posting to this Blog, I had shared with our audience about the Revival of 1857. This revival in communities of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England a year or two later was well Blogged as part of my sharing the Bible Study Notes that some were not able to get at the last meeting. Today someone ‘Telford and Wrekin’ area of the United Kingdom came looking for information on this topic.

For the fun of it I went to my Google Earth Program and searched for Telford, England….and Zoom I was there over Telford, at 6.34 Kilometers above the town, via a satellite image. Take a look with me at the image – you can see the automobiles parked in the parking lot below. Wow!

The other 96 people that have looked in today are mostly in North America at this time – because the rest of the world is sleeping now. When we go to bed – Asia wakes up and reads – so does “Land”.

My world has changed big time. The ministry that I accomplish now is far bigger than in 1974 when I began as pastor of the Walkerton Pentecostal Church, in Walkerton, Ontario.

In 1974 I remember the days that I walked to the Post Office to get our mail. I prayed earnestly for God to show me what I was to do in ministry as a pastor. I was brand new then as a Minister. I wanted to do my best as a pastor and help the community around me. But what was the community’s need? Where would I fit in? My heart nearly burst as I asked this huge question.

Now 34 years later I realize that the community around me is so much bigger than my small prayer and thinking. In one click of something called a ‘mouse’, I send my thoughts and care around the world – in picoseconds (A picosecond is one millionth of one millionth of a second (0.000 000 000 001 seconds).

I would like you to meet “Land” and then pray for “Land” that he will be successful in all that he does. Pray also for his mother…who is a believer in Jesus. From what “Land” told me, his mom is active in church. She was also wondering what churches in North America looked like. Together they viewed my granddaughter’s water baptism on YouTube.

“Land” asked me what our church was like – so I made a video of our church and mounted it on YouTube….now many people are attending our church via YouTube. Already 40 people from all over the world have walked through the doors of our church from this simple video. I made the video for my friends in Africa and Asia. I would like all of them to visit when they can. That has all happened in 24 hours.

Ladies and Gentlemen – This is my friend “Land” – together we are going to do amazing things.

Oh... sorry I have to run now...Mohamed DoDo has just called me on Skype...he is in Algeria and wants to talk to me...gotta run...

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS…
Did I tell you that I love China?!

References:
"Welcome to Northview Pentecostal Church" - http://youtube.com/watch?v=EcfbPhd3Nu4

Emma Lindsay’s Water Baptism Easter Sunday March 23, 2008-04-24
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDZSSy-7JTM&feature=related

National Geographic Video of China
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player?titleID=1496340460&catID=12

Photos of “Land’s” friends
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/china/whats-next/hoffmann-photography
Note: please see “Holiday travelers pack the Guangzhou Railway Station in Guangdong Province.”

The Mouse House

Honouring the mouse seems logical. He worked hard all winter to survive. As I cleaned away the flower bed I cut the Tall Decorative Grass form its base of roots. There inside was a nest that the mouse had lived in for the past months. Clever little fellow for sure.

There were some obstacles however. Big ones in fact were faced by the little guy through the winter. The Tall Grass was matted over with the weight of the heavy snow bank that formed above it. It fact it was at the edge of the driveway where the snow was shoveled to over six feet deep. This was the last snow bank to go and was actually like a huge chunk of ice when it melted. But the small house was fully in tact when I removed it from the mass of material around it.

The mouse was gone…but had managed to make it through one more year in our garden. A simple story I know – but there seems to be a lesson here for me.

Obstacles – no matter how big they are or how miserable they are will not stop a mouse. In fact he thrives on it. He can make his way through just about any impossibility and still survive.

I need a little of what the mouse has. When buried under tons of problems, the ice cold stuff of poor relationships, the impossibility that may crush me – I need a little of that “I can get through this if I keep at it.”

Maybe I am the only one that faces “stuff”.

One great part of the discovery of the mouse’s house was…he was gone. He had moved on and didn’t need the Tall Grass House any longer. There were trails from the grass house into the neighbour’s yard. He moved on over the winter under the snow actually moving back and forth from yard to yard. In all probability he also raised his family there with a Mrs. Mouse.

Where did Mr. Mouse get his drive from? Where did he collect that “stick with it” attitude? How did he figure out how to make a house and keep on going?

As I ponder these thoughts the resulting thought is one special place. I really believe that the Creator has given him that ability and help him through it all. I know that he has given that to me as well. We will make it through…even though it seems very difficult to do so at times.

Today I am thinking of a small grass house below tons of snow…that survived it all…and a little mouse that is enjoying a nieghbour’s yard now.

“Stuff” isn’t that hard to deal with now. I have to run…there is some “stuff” to deal with today and trails to make.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Reference in the Bible -
1 Peter 5:6&7
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Canada’s Collection and Contrast

I struggled with proper title for this posting… too much was happening as I prepared my thoughts for today… we traveled across Canada to get home again. The best way is to point at the words “collection” and “contrast”.

Some of my Chinese or African friends that read this will have a hard time relating to these words I am sure. Your worlds and mine are very different. But then if you were to try to describe your world to some of us – you might have some difficulties to try and get us to understand.

Start here…
We rose very early to get the flight from Regina, Saskatchewan to Toronto. It was 3:35 AM with the boarding to take place at 5:30 AM. The weather outside was like a crisp fall or spring day in Canada. There had been a light drizzle of rain and the windshield of the car that we were to ride in had some ice on it. Cool but nice outside.

It was cool enough and the rain that was falling was freezing – so they needed to de-ice the airplane… spraying it with a large firehouse apparatus that covered the airplane in a pink fluid. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Then it was off to Calgary. Calgary you say? That is west of Regina. Toronto is east of Regina. Well in order to get to Toronto from Regina with this airline you need to fly one hour to the west at 500 miles per hour, land, change aircraft, then fly back over Regina on route Toronto. Then it is another three and half hour flight to Toronto. And I didn’t mention that this is the cheaper flight. The direct flight from Regina to Toronto via another airline was 50% more money. Duh? Something is wrong with this picture in my mind.

Calgary… wow what a welcome! We landed in a violent blizzard. The aircraft shook as the high winds blew across the tarmac. There was at least 12 inches of snow on the ground! It was the same country, same day as Regina’s fall/spring feeling. But oh so different!

In Toronto… 3 and half hours later… there was sunshine, warm weather, green grass and the weather was almost too hot! Go figure it was Canada.

When we awoke the next day we saw green grass in our yard. When my friends and relatives woke in Alberta the next day there was 20 inches of snow and they couldn’t get their door open! Go figure – it is Canada – we are a country of contrasts!

The greatest contrast is not the weather – it is our people! Let me explain further.

In Regina there were two older men traveling with us. They were likely from the farming/rural area of Saskatchewan. Their language indicated that they had rural accent and probably Ukrainian in origins. These men were fun… and funny. They were fun to watch. Where they were going I had no idea. We parted in Calgary. Maybe they were headed for Hawaii?

In Toronto we dropped into a “Licks” hamburger shop for something to eat on the way home. As we ate our food two tall black guys walked into the restaurant. Their clothing shouted who they were. Baggy blue jeans, sunglasses, long shirts over their pants that were hanging low on the hips…. These were Toronto Black dudes. These guys were “cool” – the way that they walked told the whole story…kind of a “cocky bounce” that shouts out – “Don’t mess with me!”

Now each guy had two cell phones. Each pulled out the cell as they entered the restaurant and were working the people on the other end of the line. Then the second phone would ring… they would at times take that call as well as talking on the other phone. As they lined up to give their orders for hamburgers etc. they had to drop out of line to take another call on one of the cell phones.

As sure as I sat there I am convinced they were not talking to people about such as their mothers…these were major drug dealers working from the restaurant that I was sitting in.

Two older Ukrainian farmers and two young black dudes…what a contrast in one day. But this is Canada…. And we are all really different.

Our weather is very different from one place to another – so are our people.

Now on that day two older Ukrainian farmers and two young black dudes probably looked up to see “one old white haired guy” with a funny smile on his face looking at them steadily. I mean I cannot look and not look closely… I suppose it is a stare…. And if you see the old white haired guy –looking at you closely that is me! – I don’t mean any disrespect – it is just that you are so interesting.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

SASKATCHEWAN’S Signs of the Times

The huge sign dominates the visual of the intersection in downtown Regina. It certainly catches your eye. Whoa! There it is – promising that the Liposuction that the Clinic does will remove the unnecessary fat you have collected over the winter. The most striking thing about the sign is the middle section of the ‘young female’ that is likely 20 feet high covering the whole billboard. Look closely… yikes!

The photo shown here is not that billboard – I would have been killed in that intersection if I took the shot – so this one is from a Liposuction Clinic’s Web Site… same results….super flat tummy…cute navel…and young!

Why in the name of all things correct and proper would a pastor show a young woman’s tummy on a church Blog? Holy Cow – what is this world coming to?

Well it is ‘sign of our time’. Below the giant billboard at the Regina intersection walked at least three very large and overweight people. My apologies to large people for pointing this out…but there was NO WAY that any suction method would reduce what they had hanging around their mid section. (And after the long cold and snowy winter that we have had – my own mid section is in need of a reduction…)

THERE IS NO WAY THAT LIPOSUCTION WILL GET ME TO LOOK LIKE THIS PHOTO ON THE BILLBOARD!

Out front of a very popular garden center in Regina is a prominent sign that states clearly who they are what they believe in…(Closed Sundays – Growing Family Values)

Along the highway north of Regina, while traveling to Craik, we saw the huge metal figures created by a local artist. The one shown with me is a depiction of a Buffalo Hunter in the early days of Saskatchewan – it is an impressive sign.

In a totally different direction in a small town called ‘Sintaluta’ recently two Ontario people came and bought all eight houses that were for sale. Both women that came with the real-estate person bought everything – one woman got 3 and the other took 5. The price was ridiculous according to a local farmer that lives near by. “Who are they going to sell these houses to…the price they paid is unheard of here! It is NUTS!”

It is another sign of the times in Saskatchewan – the price of property is hotter than anywhere in Canada. The house that we bought in Regina for $89,000 in 1994 and then sold for $97,000 in 1998 – is now going for a possible $315,000….at least that is what another one across the street went for last month and it isn’t nearly as good as ours was!!!

In a series of stores locally I collected the following signs and sayings…
“Sing like no one can hear you. Love like you'll never be hurt. Dance like no one is watching.”

Another states the obvious….
“God invented mothers so that someone in the house would know where everything is.”

The most striking sign that caught my attention was that the many friends that I met in Regina are a whole lot like me…they are running out of time and they are doing it at a very rapid rate.

We have little time for the things that we want to do – or have dreamed of doing. I met five old friends this week and all of them are too busy to get time off. Time is slipping by very quickly for them. There is no time for a holiday, there is little time for a day off, and as to the jobs at home – none of us have time to get to any of the jobs at hand…instead we stumble over piles of undone work and our ‘to do lists’.

The last sign that I give you and myself… I took a photo of this one in the Craik Cemetery…. The words inscribed on the top says it all… “At Rest” – the shape suggests comfort and relaxation… but please note it is entirely made of stone. One man recently stated a fairly obvious but unspoken thought… he said… “I am going to take a long dirt nap soon…I want to live a good and long life filled with great stuff…so I have lots to think about in my long dream.. I got to get started now.”

I think that I will do the same – starting now.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
PS – Thanks Saskatchewan for a wonderful holiday and the wonder of all your Signs of the Times! And a Special Thanks to Jo-ann and Phil Robertson - for your Guest Suite!
http://www.philrobertson.com/

I AM A PRODUCT of SASKATCHEWAN and Proud of It!

I am not sure how I should approach this posting. There is too much to say and a bundle of emotions involved. Should I begin with…

• “You will never guess what happened to us yesterday…
• “Nobody will ever believe me…”
• “You won’t believe where we were…”
• “In all my years I would never have believed this might happen…”

Or simply…

• “Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

All of these ‘hooks’ would open this posting easily…

I am from Saskatchewan. I am a “Made in Saskatchewan” boy 64 years old but still a boy! Conceived in southern Saskatchewan and born in Ceylon – a small town south of Regina. To be specific it was a nursing home where one of the Matrons had some midwifery experience and my mom did all the work with my dad holding a flashlight.

I am proud of my heritage to say the least. I am delighted with all of the training and preparation that Saskatchewan gave me. It may be the richest any one could have ever had.

• I am prairie,
• I am a dust eater,
• I am a stubble jumper,
• I am a prairie chicken,
• I AM A PRODUCT OF SASKATCHEWAN…(and also Canadian)…but the prairie dirt runs deep!

If you have followed this series of postings – you will know that my wife and I are on a vacation in the Regina, Saskatchewan area.

Yesterday Alida and I were invited to attend the session the Saskatchewan Government Legislature held in the Provincial Parliament Buildings. In fact we were Introduced and Honoured by the present Members of the Legislative Assembly. When the Member for the Yorkton riding, Mr. Greg Ottenbreit, rose to introduce us he read some of the things we have been involved with as community members and pastors over these past years to his fellow parliamentarians. Then they applauded us! Go figure – only in Saskatchewan do the highest positions of our government applaud their own.

I was overwhelmed to say the least. They actually showed that they appreciated what we had done over these years!!! I think that I will choose one of my opening ‘hooks’ here…
“Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

I know… I know… don’t let it go to your head dude! They applauded three other people there as well.

One was the former Premier Peter Lougheed of Alberta, a small white haired man that has been a giant in his own right with all that he has done for Western Canada and Alberta. Peter was sitting with Alida and me… “Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

When I got through some of the shock of what happened to this “Made in Saskatchewan Product” – me – I realized that not a whole lot of people from my home province will be introduced to this powerful body of men and women in their lifetime.

As I have been reading more about the place that we were in and the events that have happened in this great room of the legislature – this session we attended also happened 100 years ago now. On April 2, 1908 through to June 12, 1908 the third Legislature Session/Sitting of the first Legislative Assembly was held.

The magnificence of the beautiful building is awe inspiring. The architecture produces a reverence and respect. As we entered the great doors at the front the thought was there of the number of important people that have passed through these doors. It is staggering to my imagination. The heads of state, heads of countries and the monarchy of all kinds have walked where I walked! “Blow my mind…no way…cool…Holy Cow!....No Way Dude!!!”

Now…if you haven’t been asking yourself the question, “Why were Murray and Alida Lincoln in the Legislature April 16, 2008?” I will point it out that you should be asking that!

It all began in somewhere around 1991-92 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan when a young lady walked into our lives. Her name was Lauretta. She was facing some issues personally and had experienced a “God Moment” where she saw personally the power of very big and loving God. When she told us her story and what happened we were all amazed.

It was from that moment on that Lauretta became an important part of our lives. I guess you could say she was like one of our daughters.
Well you need to fast forward to 2008 – Lauretta is now an Executive Assistant to Mr. Greg Ottenbreit, the MLA for Yorkton. That is one of the reasons it happened…

Now if you are a Bible Reader, you may have caught the Esther and Mordecai story along the way….well…this has some of the same stuff in it.

I want to say thank you to Lauretta for this honor and the introduction you provided for Greg and me. You have a great boss there Lauretta – serve him well. I AM PROUD OF YOU – YOU GO GIRL!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS – Next question… "Did we enjoy the Legislative Process that we viewed?” Yah...it was great….the hollering back and forth was cool…not sure what was being said…or what some of the issues were…but it was fun.

At one point the former Premier of the Alberta Government, Peter Lougheed, was leaning forward fully engaged as he listened to the two sides argue a point… I placed my hand on his shoulder and asked if he wanted me to hold him down…to which he chuckled deeply. I mean he was a GOOD POLITICIAN and what politicians love is this banter across the floor!

Too funny…

http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=a2fb3916-8332-4c86-b4ef-17c73b2ceb27

SASKATCHEWAN
SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY AND THEIR DURATION
Legislature Session Opening Prorogation
1st Legislature ............................................... 1st Mar. 29, 1906 May 26, 1906
2nd Feb. 21, 1907 Apr. 3, 1907
3rd Apr. 2, 1908 June 12, 1908
Dissolution – July 20, 1908

Tour
http://www.legrehab.gov.sk.ca/panoramic/gallery6.html#Additional%20Instructions
Murray Lincoln with Greg Ottenbreit

Press Scrum with Premier Brad Wall Murray Lincoln as Speaker of the Assembly

Saskatchewan Gathering Place

Have you ever wondered where old farmers gather after they are retired? After there is no more work in the fields and maybe the farms are sold – what happens to them?

That is a Canadian riddle by the way… here is the answer. In Yorkton, Saskatchewan they are at the Mall drinking coffee.

The setting is perfect – open, easy and you can sit for as long as you like with your friends…tell as many jokes, tall stories and fabrications as you want to – and every one will accept you no matter who you are!

The popular TV program of a few years ago called “Cheers” was situated in a bar in Boston with some unusual characters in that setting. The familiar lyrics take you into the scene…

Sometimes you wanna go..

Where everybody knows your name

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

the troubles are all the same.

you wanna be where everybody knows your name

Yesterday I was there again…in the Gathering Place for old farmers. They were a happy bunch – jovial, joshing, telling tales of their latest travels.

One man by the name of Dennis, I have known for a number of years, told of his recent stay in Texas for three months. He loved the warm weather and wanted to stay another month but his wife felt they had to get back home – grandkids and kids – you know…
This man is typical of the fairly large group gathered in the Mall yesterday.

I think it is a ‘prairie thing’ to gather like this. They were ‘Roosting’ while waiting for the next thing to happen in your life or on your flight path.

On the two hour drive to Yorkton we saw literally thousands upon thousands of Snow Geese gathered in the miles of open fields. They were resting and waiting for the signal to be given, the temperature to be right, the good warm westerly winds to come – telling them that they could move on north.
That sight alone of the millions of waiting geese is not possible to portray with a single camera shot…you need a video of the fields as you pass them at 60+ miles an hour, to catch a glimpse of the mile upon mile of sitting geese. In fact at one stretch I caught 15 miles(15 minutes) of fields filled with geese sitting side by side… for as far as you could see – not only that long but that deep. There were geese back in each field as far as you could see into the horizon.

It is one of the Canadian Wonders that you can catch in Saskatchewan. It happens as they feed on the harvested fields with the grain that has fallen to the ground after the combines have moved through the area.

Back in the Yorkton Mall… it is 2:00 PM, lunch is over and we have the same scene – not millions – but dozens upon dozens of men wearing their caps, dressed in dark leather jackets, eating and drinking together. The average age would be around 75+. Many were well into their 80s. They are waiting for the warmer weather to come so they can join their sons and grandsons out on the farm again. Their grandsons and sons now own and operate the farm that was so much a part of their lives for so many years.

What a treat to have witnessed the Saskatchewan Gathering Place again.

Read all the words below of the lyrics…. Now they have new meaning for me….

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Cheers Theme) Lyrics

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

All those nights when you've got no lights,

the check is in the mail.

And your little angel hung the cat up by it's tail.

And your third fiancé didn't show!

Sometimes you wanna go..

Where everybody knows your name

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

the troubles are all the same.

you wanna be where everybody knows your name

You roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee is dead,

the morning's looking bright

And your shrink ran off to Europe,

and didn't even write.

And your husband wants to be a girl!

Be glad there's one place in the world

Where everybody knows your name

and they're always glad you came.

You wanna go where people know,

people are all the same.

You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

[Repeat]Where everybody knows your name.

And they're always glad you came.

Finding Treasure

In Saskatchewan, the distance between places is outstanding. It blows the minds of people from outside of Saskatchewan. If you are not from the prairies you will not understand. “Flat, far and wonderfully stretching forever” would best describe what we tried to take in yesterday.

We traveled from Regina, Saskatchewan to the town of Craik – a little over one hour north of Regina.

Alida had traveled to the small town in Saskatchewan to take in a part of her historical roots, along with her sister and Aunt(and the three husbands).

Her dad was born in this community where her grandfather had settled with his family. Grandpa and Grandma, William and Ella Jones, built their life together here after coming to Canada from Stillwater, Minnesota.

There is way too much to tell in this one posting. Where do you start?

One of our goals was to see the Craik Museum – a small grouping of old buildings assembled at the edge of town. In this museum we found ‘Treasure’ – in fact hundred of treasures stored for whoever would like to see them.

In order to get into the Craik Museum we needed to ask someone to open it up. One telephone call found the person in charge on her way to another town for a meeting. She called another friend that lived in a small house near the museum and that had a key. After about a half hour she came to unlock the museum and then others from town arrived to meet the relatives of ‘Bill and Ella Jones’. Our group of 6 was expanded to about 10 then 12 walking around the museum property sharing stories about the people that each knew.

It was like we had been there for ever. What a treasure in these people and the stories.

A Museum Filled with Stories….
The Museum was filled with artifacts from the past. Things that people had collected and then donated to the Museum were now the treasures of Craik.

There is one glass cabinet was Grandpa Bill Jones’ ‘Violin Cello’. The tag mounted on the Cello stated the following….
“This violin cello belonged to Mr. W. R. Jones. He played it in his father’s orchestra at Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1887. After coming to Sask, he played for dances at Craik & neighboring towns. Also his bass violin was given to me by Chummie Jones ~ Mildred Crawford”

Alida and her sister looked into the Cello case together – here was a hint for some of the musical abilities of their own families.

Not far from the Bass Violin Cello was a cabinet filled with some oddities from the long past.

The card on the one item caught my eye. It read….
Bertha Strange…
“Made from the foot of a little girls pet turkey in 1855. The turkey along with others were driven 290 miles by foot, to market. The turkeys were gathered along the way. This match box was made from the leg… given to the Child in Remembrance…”

Bertha Strange had kept this very unusual item until recent years when she contributed it to the Museum in Craik.

I stared at this item for a long time thinking of a little girl that had a pet turkey so far from anyway out on this prairie, that was then added to a flock and walked 290 MILES across the prairie in 1855 to be sold in a market. The father saw the sorrow of his little girl and ‘helped’ her grief by making a tooth pick holder using the turkey leg. And here I was reading the small card 153 years later!

Yesterday – no one in all of Canada found a treasure the way that we did.

As we drove back to Regina through the “Flat, far and wonderfully stretching forever” prairie – I thought about all the people like the little girl of 153 years ago – that gave up so much to make this their home.

WOW!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Celebrating SOUTHSIDE

In the audience was an unusual mix of people as I stepped up to the pulpit to speak – yesterday at Southside Pentecostal Church in Regina. In front of me were close friends that I have known for many years…mixed with people that I was just meeting.

I was again in the pulpit that I used to preach in as the pastor of Southside Pentecostal Assembly. I was almost overwhelmed with the emotions I was feeling for these special folk.

Now add two more former pastors to the audience and WOW – there were many feelings! Wendy Saunders (her husband is Rev. David Saunders) and her family were visiting as well as Rev. Calvin King and his wife Diane. These ‘old friends’ made the day.

The best part for me was meeting the new pastor, Rev. Robert Thompson and his family. This man is unique and fits like a glove with this church. It was a delight to meet him and his family.

Some will not understand the emotions that a former, visiting pastor(me) has when they return to the church they once served. All of the stories, all of the joys, all of the fears, all of the victories of the congregation that you once knew so very well – swept to the forefront and flood your thoughts. Mixed with that were my thoughts about the other two pastors in the audience – that I am sure had many thoughts as well.

Let me explain further…
The church building we were sitting in yesterday was not the only one that we all knew.

Rev. Calvin King had been the pastor when Southside built its new building on the south end of the city of Regina. The first phases of the wonderful new church were built and served the congregation well.

Rev. David Saunders had followed the Kings as the next pastor of Southside. It was during the Saunder’s ministry at Southside that the vandals had broken into the new Southside building and set the place on fire. The first fire was put out – but then it was relit by the same vandals and the entire building was burned to the ground.

The Saunders led the church through the next years as they bought the present building and then carried out many renovations.

Today the old school that has become the church’s home…has been completely renovated under the leadership of Rev. Wes Dyna. Now Rev. Robert Thompson is the new leader.

Yesterday…
To have the two pastors that once were in such huge transition times in the same church – at the same time – after all these years….was …simply amazing. Add to that the new pastor… and WOW!

I was flooded with emotions.

Let me say it again – Southside Pentecostal Assembly at 41 Birchwood Road in Regina, Saskatchewan is a GREAT CHURCH. It is a jewel that will be used to reach its community with love and care. Now its new local name that is catching hold is “The SPA”. Check out their Web Site at the end of this posting.

The Tomorrows…
Pastor Robert you are the MAN for THIS HOUR. There is no one that will pray for you more than ME. I know your task at hand. I perceive your ability and see your care. Nothing but good stuff will come from this special ministry that you and Carolyn will provide here.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS – YIKES… now add one more emotional happening to yesterday – it was my 64th Birthday – I now have 52 Sundays left until my Retirement…whatever that means… oh boy time is flying by too fast….

http://www.sparegina.com/

The Thompson Family

Celebrating Bobbie McCaslin

The group of friends waited in the large room in anticipation for the special guest to arrive. Bobbie was on her way. After three months of careful planning by her husband Dave; this gathering of friends were going to see this one special person honored in a few moments.
Bobbie is my wife’s only sibling – younger sister.

It was April 11, 2008, and Bobbie was celebrating her special B-Day today with her husband Dave and her son Jon and his gal friend Chandra – at this restaurant – so she thought. Little did she realize that friends and family from across the country would make this trek to her party. Oh boy was it a surprise!

Following the initial shock and after we were seated we all listened with great interest as different ones shared how Bobbie had touched their lives. They wove story after story together to build a wonderful collage of Bobbie’s life in their different communities.

Bobbie is a great gal – and as her brother-in-law I brag on her a lot. She has accomplished a huge amount over these short 60 years she has lived. She created a home that has always welcomed all of us. She has raised two great sons that have now set sail into their career world with great potential. And Dave, her husband, has also accomplished great things with Bobbie at his side.

Person after person shared the many different ways that Bobbie has encouraged them. The stories were hilarious and touching at the same time.

I want to say loudly for all to hear – Bobbie – you are G-R-E-A-T.

A special treat for both my wife Alida and Bobbie was the fact that their Aunt Bobbie arrived from Victoria to celebrate this special evening. Aunt Bobbie is their father’s last sibling who has become a special part of the girls lives in this last few years.

The evening was like a wedding reception – mixed with a graduation together with a retirement party… all the elements of celebration.

As I have been thinking of the happening I have come to realize that we all need to do more of this. Sadly we wait far to long until sometimes time has swallowed the opportunity.

Hey – grab some friends together and celebrate someone’s life! It may be the greatest blessing you will every know….or that they will ever need.

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

PS – For our Friends…. the last posting had us traveling to Saskatoon was an inaccurate one on purpose – okay really it was a L-I-E... Bobbie had caught wind of our trip to Saskatchewan…she had found out that Great Grandma Lincoln had gone to Saskatoon…and no one had told Bobbie…and her own sister who usually tells her everything…kind of had missed telling her this…something MUST VERY WRONG….! And this BLOG is a PUBLIC POSTING… Too funny…

In Transit...

Hummph! Heavy suitcases... Saskatoon... here we come....

What did she pack in these suticases anyway?

PML

Grandparent Dating

There we sat in a Montana’s restaurant – miles from hustle and hurry. It was a regular date except for the fact that we are not young anymore. We feel young sometimes…but really are not young. In fact we had just placed my 87 year old mother on an airplane for her holiday. Alida and I were slowing down considerably…can you imagine a date together – it had been a long time.

We sat at a table in the center of the restaurant. Alida had her back the window to the outside – I faced it. We were the first people in the establishment for lunch. Nice setting and great food – together – a ‘great date’.

It was about the time the warm glow of our date together washed over me that the two young ladies walked in to find a booth right behind Alida. My guess is that they were in about their late 20s or early 30s. They sat together on one side of the booth’s table – apparently waiting for some one to join them. The side glances they tossed at the window confirmed the expectations.

In a few minutes their guests arrived. The first guest was about their own age – male, taller, dressed in a cool shirt and his hair spiked. His style was a wee bit younger looking than the gals. A few steps behind him was another fellow that walked slower – with somewhat less company than his leader. As the fellows came in to join the gals – the gals came alive. Their quiet talk on the one side of the booth while waiting for their company was changed to an upbeat giggle, laughing and rapid talking, asking, mixed with kind joking. The second man was introduced to the gals – but he was far more subdued.

This was a date where two people Gal #1 and Guy #1 were connecting. The Gal #2 was along with her close friend to meet someone new – the possible blind date with Guy#2 – who was scared skinny at this point. He smiled awkwardly as he met Gal #1 and Gal #2 – but never said much after that point. He listened to the banter and the joking, but ate quietly. Gal #2 was across from him. She tried a few run ups with possible interesting topics that Guy#2 might grab on to – but she was hitting a wee bit of a wall.

The conversation zeroed back to Guy#1 – with two Gals talking to the one Guy.

Sitting off at the distance that we were made it impossible to hear the content of the conversation. Guy #1 was entertaining, he was also presenting some sort of personal problem that the two gals were engaged in a search for more information. The eye brows of Gal #1 and the facial concern was trying to convey to Guy# 1 that she may care deeply, that he should/could see her as a possible deeper relationship for days to come. Guy #2 was in pain emotionally as he choked down a huge hamburger that would take nearly 30 minutes to chew. I am sure at the point he saw the size of it – he wished he had order a few Shrimp….

The tension, the courting dance, and the strategic word crafting that took place with ‘the booth group’ was fascinating to watch. A super sized date opportunity that was going no where for the Guy #2 and Gal #2 – and then Gal #1 seemed to be hitting a few well pitched balls by Guy#1…

Dating. Yikes – maybe even double yikes. Here I am sitting with a grandmother of six grandkids… enjoying the sharing of hot wings… licking our fingers unceremoniously – and carefree if we had food stuff on our upper lip or not. In fact Alida asked me if she had orange sauce around her mouth like I did.

Grandparents on a date – are different than 20 or 30 something-s that have to struggle with their relationships – like fishermen trying to land the elusive trout.

Grandparents not only landed the trout long ago – but now just sit in the boat and glow with orange sauce on their upper lips.

Grandparent dating is slower and more satisfying – relieved of all pretense and just enjoying what we have. Talk about the grandkids and the funny thing they are doing, have done or may do someday filled our table talk. That is how the warm glow arrives so neatly to our table – quicker than the ketchup.

In recent times I have watched with great interest some friends of ours begin again. They are older – both widowed. They connected and now are happy with a new life before them. The dating happened along the way, mixed with giggles and laughter and story telling… then the glow. But it was easier than the first time around.

This posting is somewhat odd I suppose. With it I recommend that people like us reconnect with each other. Get out there and mix with those that are trying hard to impress each other. Then slowly but surely realize that YOU have something special as grandparent – not just grandkids – but each other.

Mmmmm Mmmm it is good to be old(er).

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Timing Time for Yourself

Happy Birthday Murray!

I love it… a birthday party – just for me! WOWWee! Okay – Okay – I know that I am not a boy any longer – but a mature older man that has an image to keep up and guard…just so I can maintain the IMAGE of PASTOR… at least that is what they tell me.

Tonight I received an early Birthday present from my wife.. a huge dragon fly that I can fly and control to go where I want it to go. When my wife gave it to me at dinner… I was so ready to run out side and try it out. So I charged it a little and away I went.

My friend across the street had bought one as well…. So we intend to fly together. He is now retired with a little more time to fly than I do.

As the two of us talked about the kites, dragon flies and the techie stuff that we like so much… he wondered – why it was that just us… and not our wives that were interested in these marvelous machines? Why is it primarily men that like this stuff?

The answer may be – I hate shopping for clothes and ‘she’ loves it…. I don’t like shopping Malls and my wife loves them. But give me a good technical thing I can watch for hours.

The train display was a good example – my wife sat down while a poured over every inch of the tracks and the trains shown.

All I know is that we are really different after these many years of marriage – no we did not become like each other – in fact maybe we are less like we personally were than any thing else – poles apart.

Being different isn’t bad…if fact the space that we keep from each other is a help I am sure. We both need our space… lost of it.

One man I know retired from his management role at the large factory. He had been retired for about 3 months when I saw them again. She leaned closely to me and said in my ear…”Can you get him something to do OUT THERE? He is driving me crazy in the kitchen, in the family room and everywhere. For 35 years of his working career I have had the house to myself all day if I want it that way…now he follows me everywhere – advising me what to do and which way I should go next. Find him something to do or might commit MURDER – PLEASE?!”

She smiled sweetly – but then her eyes pleaded with me… “DO SOMETHING SOON – PULEASE – before I kill him dead?!”

Thank you to my wife Alida for my space. Thanks for so many years of loving me and letting me love you – by not being there… and for the space.

Now for younger couples that have the idea that they must be in each other’s face… I may shock you by saying this…leave him alone… let her be… find solace in the quietness of aloneness.

Jesus was perhaps the busiest man that I have ever read about. He picked 12 men that needed lots of training and teaching – yet they never seemed to get the main concept… then he did it all in three short years… launching a pilot project that would grow to be one of the Biggest Corporations in the world – with offices on almost every corner in some cities… with the clientele flooding into these offices often… on and on we can go with amazing results shown. Jesus was amazing!

His secret – every day he got alone… in a quiet place… to think…receive…contemplate…and reflect….

Alone is okay when we need it. You need it and so do I.

Now flying a kite with some one is a ball – but doing it alone is therapy.

Where and when is your quiet spot? How do you get a way?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

My Dragon Flyer…
http://flytechonline.com/dragonfly_index.htmlhttp:/flytechonline.com/dragonfly_index.html

My Train Video….
http://youtube.com/watch?v=a8bfqZE4u7k

The Test of Timing on Decisions

John Maxwell is an amazing author and leader. His writing grab your attention in every way.

Today I share his thoughts on “Timing” and "Decisions". Maybe it will be a help to you today as you deal with certain “timing” issues in your life.

The Test of Timing
Make sure that each decision you make stands the test of timing. To help determine if it is the right time to seize an opportunity, consider the following…

1. The Needs Around you
When you keep a finger on the pulse of your people’s basic needs, you will always find an opportune time to lead.

Get in touch with (your)people’s needs. Then make a point to continually ask: What is their mood? What do they desire to accomplish? What do they need from me, their leader?

2. Opportunities Before You
You find right opportunities only by looking for them. When you take time to spot golden opportunities, they start to stick out.

(Often we are too caught up in the nothingness of life and we have no time to look around. A game on the internet came consume valuable time researching what could possibly be.)

3. Influences Behind You
Before you make an important decision, ask your key influencers what they are feeling. Do they see the same opportunity you do? Are they discerning the same timing? When trying to discern the right time to take action, you must get feedback from your key people.

4. The Success Under You
Experience provides practical advice, so take a minute to recall your successes. Have you done anything like this before? Is it reasonable to expect the same outcome from this decision?

5. The Courage Within You
Leadership requires courage – the courage to risk, to reach, and to put yourself on the line to seize an opportunity. The word courage comes from a French word that means “heart”. Taking advantage of an opportunity at the right time requires heart.

Fear will try to get you to back down and it will also try to get the better of you. Good leaders understand that ripe opportunities never come without fear. They move forward despite a moment of hesitation.

Side Thoughts
Now place this ‘grid on an idea’ over your own life. Say you are a mother… you are the leader. How does it fit into your life with your kids? You are their ‘manager’ and ‘boss’.

What if you are going to change jobs right now? How do these words fit into your life?

What if you need to launch a new business at this time?

The words of wisdom, offered in solid thoughts by John Maxwell, came to me came as a result of a study he offered on the lady named Esther. Esther saved the Jewish people from potential extinction by the valuable use of Timing.

Did you catch the five points and what is being shown here?

Did you see the Around you, Before you, Behind you, Under you, and Within you?

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~