Friday, February 27, 2009

Lead Yourself First!















K folks....

I have been reading John Maxwell's "Leadership Gold" and have come across the most astounding chapter....

The Toughest Person To Lead Is Yourself.....

Ouch....

Here are the four things he talks about.....

Practice Followership...

I have kept books on followership on my desk for the last several years and so this one made me feel good.....

I even blogged about this one time in my Leading From The Pew piece....

Practice Self Discipline.....

This one left a mark after the smack but I am working on it.....

Practice Patience.....

Time helps with this and I marvel at my standard response to issues of late. Let a little time take care of it......

Seek Accountability.....

I think this has been the secret to Tracie and I over the years. We have no secrets from the other. One must choose accountability and take the pain it sometimes brings....

This chapter has been incredible and I have taken an entire week to read it one little section at a time.....

Indeed my friends...

Leading one's self is a most difficult process...

I keep reminding myself this every morning at 5:45 when the alarm goes off and I head to the Y.....

But there is little doubt in this pastor....

If I can lead myself then I need to worry about others following....

But if I lead not myself....

The blind will be leading the blind and the ditches will be full.....

Blessings...

rks

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I Care



The last few weeks Tracie and I have challenged those that we lead to endeavor to show care....

One of those we have tried to care for has begun to beat us to the "caring"....

I love it when Care begins to be reciprocated....

The true way to reciprocate care is not to the source that caring came to you from....

But rather to care for the next person....

If I offer care to you and then you care back....

We have just scratched each other's back....

But when I care for you...

You care for the next person....

And that person passes it on.....

We change our community.....

We transform our church....

Our lives never come back to ground zero......

Blogger Buddy.....

Call or text or email or just tell somebody today you care.....

You will be amazed at their response....

Blessings...

rks

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Faith Promise Works!





Updated!!!

Today was our World Missions Day here at CUPC....

Rev Gary Carter the Foreign Missions Director for the Texas District UPCI was here with us.....

He preached a wonderful message and then led CUPC in its annual Faith Promise Commitment.....

We are excited about the $75k+ annual commitment for 2009.....

Also the Missions Offering today was $11k+........

This is a new milestone for us here and we rejoice that the Lord is trusting us with such.....

Gumbo, Fellowship, Scrabble and a Big Smile

Tonight Connect (CUPC over 50's group) connected at Dick & Charlotte McCarty's house.....

Tracie and I crashed the party and were the youngest there....

We enjoyed great fellowship and games and food.....

Charlotte offered up the best bowl of gumbo with chicken and sausage in the history of the universe....

With Carol Terry's potato salad in the middle of the big bowl of gumbo.....

I was euphoric....

So was my mouth and stomach.....

I played two games of scrabble......

There were several first timers at this dinner.......

What a wonderful evening.....

We are truly blessed with the best of people here at CUPC.......

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Lesson From A Lemon















There seems to be many purposes all found in the same lemon....

Here are a few I found today......

Juice
Rind
Seeds
Zest
Acid
Flavor
Drink
Garnish
Marinade
Liquor
Preservative
Food oxidizer
Fermentation
Lemon Battery
Deodorizer
Stain remover
Hair lightener
Insecticide
Skin bleach
Acne Treatment
Liver cleanser when drank with a glass of water
Stimulate for metabolism
Antibacterial
Face mask
Wood treatment
Skin cleaner and is used in taxidermy
Disinfectant
Odor Eater
Deodorant
Hand moistener for bank tellers etc
Aromatherapy
Copper Cleaner when dipped in baking soda
Citric Acid
Vitamin C

All of these and many more are found in this same piece of fruit called a lemon.....

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galations 5:22,23

These are all seven different parts of a single fruit.....

The Fruit of the Spirit....

Single fruit....

Many parts.....

And it is all in there......

You can't get any without getting it all....

And if one claims a few parts of the fruit and is missing others.....

Well.....

If one does not manifest them all he really really possesses none......

This little lesson has been resounding inside of me all day and I intend to share it with the CUPC family tonight....

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Rules for Dating My Daughter

RULE ONE: If you pull into my driveway and honk, you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

RULE TWO: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off my daughter's body, I will remove them.

RULE THREE: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips... You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants 10 sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely to your waist.

RULE FOUR: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. I am the Barrier and I will kill you.

RULE FIVE: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other we should talk about sports, politics and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require is when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house.


RULE SIX: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is OK with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

RULE SEVEN: As you stand in my hall way, waiting for my daughter to appear, and an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. Instead of just standing there, why not do something useful, like change the oil in my car?

RULE EIGHT: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter. Places where there are beds, sofas or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, police or nuns. Places where there is dancing, holding hands or happiness. Romantic movies are to be avoided. Hockey games are OK. Old folk's homes are better.

RULE NINE: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter I am the all-knowing merciless god of your universe. If I ask where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

RULE TEN: Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange acts up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean my guns, as I wait for you to bring my little girl home. As soon as you pull onto the driveway, exit your car. Announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home early then return to your car. There is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

Rule Eleven: Please point out to me the place on your puny body that you would least like to be shot in.

Monday, February 16, 2009

New Usher!!!






















I love my new usher!!!!!

Chris Ferguson snapped this pic with his phone last night and sent it to me.....

Matthew has come so far and I am so thankful this fine young man commandeered the front doors last night and was passing out missions pamphlets for our World Missions Day....

Last night's choir had three first timers and a couple of other new worshippers....

One was baptized in the Name of Jesus and another young man received the Holy Ghost....

Yesterday was a day filled with new people and fresh faith.....

I truly and humbly must thank HIM for his blessings.....

CUPC has become a newly revitalized ministry in the last couple of months....

I humbly pray that this revival spirit continue and HIS CUPC continue to thrive....

Blessings....

rks

Friday, February 13, 2009

Valentine #27




Valentines Day......

#27 Tracie and I have shared.....

Each one is better....

Babe, you are more than wonderful and I love you with all of my heart....

Just a note to the ether world and beyond that I am checking out for the next 36 and giving Tracie my undivided attention....

This is quite difficult to do for a pastor....

However if anyone is planning on getting sick or dying.....

Please wait til Sunday.....

Email, text, blogs, cell phones, online communities, work, inlaws and outlaws are all gonna have to take a back seat to my little lady the next few hours....

See ya

Thursday, February 12, 2009

facebook is bothering me




K folks....

I admit I am struggling with facebook....

I recognize the role of online communities today....

But this facebook thing is really bothering me....

Its great to find old friends...

I think the status post is neat....

I am happy to have new and old friends....

But here is what bothers me....

It is the women who connect to everybody that they know or don't know.....

Men don't seem to do this.....

At least to me!!!

Somebody tell me if I am wierding out on this one....

I think it wrong for men and women to talk on the phone or chat rooms because that leads to inappropriate temptation.....

But the facebook letting down of guards etc is bothering me.....

I see pastors interacting with people on a much to casual basis....

I see women chit chatting with men about their status....

I see pictures posted by married folks of other married folks.....

Tell me what is right about numerous friend request daily from women one has never met....

Folks....

This is scary.....

It is bothering me.....

Oh, I am not tempted....

Tracie has every password to every online community I frequent so I have nothing hidden....

But this casual letting down of guards is convicting me.....

I am praying about all of this.....

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

My Piece of the Pie!!!



I love this blog stuff.....

This blog is my personal piece of the pie.....

Here I can talk about what I want to....

I can talk about who I want to....

I can do it when I want to.....

Here I am not bound or limited by the normal constraints placed on a pastor.....

As long as I behave I am good.....

Therefore RKS Upclose has become my piece of the blogosphere pie....

If I want to talk about my demons I can....

If I want to brag on my kids I can....

If I want to talk about Tracie so be it.....

If I want to ignor somebody that is OK as well....

Politics, friends, ministry, church, God and whatever is not off limits....

It is in the blogosphere the blogger can define himself as he wants to.....

Comments can be allowed or not and left or deleted at will.....

Through this blog world Tracie and both have made both old and new friends.....

I think it funny when people respond negatively because this is my little piece of the world and rude comments really don't matter.....

I think it great when something here touches and effects someone across the world positively.....

To the followers of RKS Upclose I thank you for your friendship and comments and appreciate everytime you have clicked here to come by and sample....

My piece of the pie!!!

Rubber Legs

Redonia and I laughed the last couple of mornings as we climbed the hill to get to the Y.....

Just getting up the hill is a workout....

After 31 minutes of cardio and some weights we walked back down the hill....

My rubbery legs were doing funny things.....

This workout thing is working out.....

This afternoon Tracie and I are gonna bounce down to the Galleria area for lunch with Pastor Ted Cox and his favorite wife.....

I am enjoying my time with Redonia in the morning....

We found her in a dumpster 22 years ago and adopted her.....

She has worked for us at CUPC for the last three years and maintained her graphics/photography business....

But she has launched herself full time in her graphics....

RS Creative Designs is all Redonia and I am so proud of her.....

To each of you who follow this blog I pray the blessings of the Lord upon you this day....

I pray that each of you find his best in your life.....

Blessings....

rks

Monday, February 9, 2009

I Conquered My Demon

The phone alarm beeped at 6 a.m....

I stumbled from the bed and made sure Redonia was up.....

Then we made our way to the Y......

Where I faced my demon.....

Today I was on that demon elliptical machine for four minutes....

Four minutes I stood with my foot on the head of that wicked serpent....

Did I say four minutes.....

Yes....

Four minutes!!!!!

Tomorrow I will push the start button...........................

Sunday, February 8, 2009

My Devotions Keep Coming Back Here

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Today I Joined The Y






I made Tracie a promise back at Christmas time....

Today was the first step of keeping it...

The fellow that never took a single day of PE or a physical ed class of any kind his complete life....

The fellow that has never lifted a single weight of any kind in 47 years....

Me.....

I joined the Y today....

I sent a message home to Tracie what I had decided and would be home after the crime was complete...

So at six a.m. tomorrow while all my sluggard preacher buddies are slapping the alarm....

I am gonna be up and trying to not get thrown off a treadmill....

Does anyone know if they put training wheels on the bikes there?

And what in the world is an elliptical machine?

Such knowledge is too much for me....

Until tomorrow....

Monday, February 2, 2009