Communication

10cc an old but still good rock band had a song called "The Things We Do for Love." It was one of my favorite songs as I began my young adulthood. The song had a crazy twist to it. I thought it was just that the band was from England. Part of the lyrics go like this. "Communication is the problem to the answer."

Wow! What a concept. Communication being an answer to problems in life is something I have always understood. But to put it the way "10cc" said it was interesting.

When you have problems getting along with someone, 9 times out of 10 it is because of a lack of communication. People stop talking to each other and they forget to realize how silly it is not to communicate. If we don't communicate we can't end problems. Problems are ended through communication.

If I have hurt you or made you feel bad in some way, I may not know it and you would still be upset, angry or sometimes even mad at me. But, if you let me know what I have done, I'll love you enough to listen and I really feel I would ask for your forgiveness for the wrong you feel I have done. But unless you communicate with me what the problem is, I can't do anything about it. God forgive us for our lack of communication.

I'll see you later!

Secrets

Secrets, they are hard to keep. You hear something someone says about something no one knows about and you, if tempted like me, would like to be the first to tell someone who doesn't know, but you are sure they would be interested.

Now, you might say that is gossip. Well, whose to say what is and isn't true? That is the evil of speaking when we should be silent and silence is golden I have always heard.

Honestly, I'm not tempted any longer to share bad news about someone, but I remember as a child the difficulty I had of not turning on those who surely had turned on me. But, then one day I realized my life is full of little secrets that if added up would change many an opinion of me and my life. So what do you do?

Keep secrets that are not gossip in your heart. If someone felt comfortable coming to you to share something they were uncomfortable about in their own lives, pray for them. If they come to you with something about someone else, then, help them see the difference between the need to share and the need to keep it a secret even from you.

Secrets have their place as long as they are kept secret.

I'll see you later!

Things

I like having things. Things give me some happiness now and then. I know that it isn't really the thing that makes me happy, it is the ownership or usability of the thing that brings joy and excitement at times. Sometimes the thing brings me sadness as I have to repair it or work on it or have someone else work on it.

I have had many things in my life and I have been happy most of my life. I remember the first "thing" I really remember bringing me "happiness." It was a highway road set of men and women and railroads, trucks, stop signs, yield signs, water towers, buildings and a lot of little people with cars and trucks. It was my own little city. I enjoyed having that, what I believe was a Christmas present from dear ole Saint Nick. Everything had to be lined up and no one could disobey the laws of the city. The police were there along with the firemen and postmen. Ladies with their strollers and shopping baskets. It was grand. Everyone was in place and playing with them was fun, for a while.

Then, it really got boring. Setting it all up and then having to pick up the 1000 piece set was an enormous task for a pre-schooler (at least in his mind). The signs and rules no longer mattered and the fun turned into nothing left to do but find ways to change it all up. Typical male mind syndrome.

Not too long after Christmas, it became less of a thrill to have this thing that I loved so much. My problem? I didn't really love the thing, it was more of an infatuation for a while. How long after Christmas was the problem. Probably the third or fourth time I played with this 1000 piece set. I lost interest. It didn't fascinate me anymore. No one in my family wanted to help set it all up, much less put it all away after we played with it.

Can you imagine God giving up on us? Losing his fascination with humanity? I am amazed at how long he has suffered through my misguidance, much less that of those who pay him no tribute at all with their lives. Those who may have given homage to him at one time but now have lost fascination with his leadership and wisdom. I can't imagine what it would be like if God all of a sudden decided, "I'm tired of this. No one is wanting to play by the rules and obey the signs. It is useless and I am ready to pack it all in."

Then, at just the right moment His Son places his hand on his shoulder and says, "Forgive them Father, they don't know what they are doing."

I'll see you later

What are Friends For?

Roger Felps, probably one of my best friends, had triple bypass surgery yesterday and I was unable to be with him. I wanted to be and felt terrible not being there. It hurt. It was a difficult day trying to pray for him and carry out the rest of my responsibilities for the day. I wanted so badly to be there. I still feel a desire to be bedside making him laugh or sharing stories with him. He was and is so much of an inspiration to me. I have so much I owe to him for his insight and love for me and my family that I want you all to know him as well.

He came through the surgery fine and was sitting up in a chair talking and probably listening to some crazy person telling him their problems just because that is what he does. He is a great listener. But mostly he is my friend. He called me the day he went to the hospital on purpose. He knew I would be there if he had given me enough time and that is his desire. He is my friend.

Roger and I went to Africa in 2001. We spent all but one night together and I still wonder how he slept through the sound of a jet plane taking off every two snores. I know that whether or not Roger ever gets on another train, bus, plane, taxi, motorcycle, subway or eat another meal of some unknown origin he helped me see the world in different eyes and in different ways as his talents were challenged on that trip. It is with family he is his best. He is my friend and I love him and his family for being who they are.

Roger is a Christian. I don't worry about where he will be when he leaves this life. I don't worry about where he will be when God calls us all home. I am concerned about those of us who love him who will miss him. (Right now as he reads this he will be saying "Hey, I'm not leaving yet." )I know that, Buddles, but we are all getting closer.

Keep the two of us in your prayers, specifically my friend Roger.

I'll see you later.

Making Tracks

I have been around the block once or twice in my life. I have seen things that still to this day baffle my understanding of normal. I know, you are thinking, "Britt, you're not normal." Well, I've been thinking and I didn't fall asleep.

Do you realize that no matter what happens the weather in Tulsa during the Soul Winning Workshop is going to be...."different?" It gave the old saying "making tracks" a whole new meaning.

As we walked across the Tulsa State Fairgrounds from building to building last weekend we walked through rain, mud and snow. The rain was so heavy cars were leaving tracks in their wake. The mud was so thick in places the tracks were visible as you walked though it. Then, on Saturday, the snow came and talk about tracks. You didn't have to worry about not being able to follow them, they were very evident, the tracks that is.

Tracks are left by those who went before us. Some we follow others we try to ignore. We need to be responsible people and keep ourselves following the right set of tracks. I hope you are leaving tracks that are worth following.

May God Bless you and yours. I'll see you later!

Britt