What you will find here

This is a place to examine plans filled with hope; plans which promise a refuge from chaos; plans which will shape our futures. Veterans with and without PTSD, Pentecostal Presbyterians, Adjudicated Youth, and Artists-Musicians-Writers: I write what I know. ~~~ Evelyn

Saturday, July 30, 2011

on Leadership - by Richard Nixon

People are persuaded by reason, but moved by emotion.  [The leader] must both persuade them and move them.

Richard Nixon


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

There is a Balm in Gilead


http://www.lorenz.com/Med/Sample/CGA1029.mp3

There is a Balm in Gilead
Earlene Rentz (Composer)
SATB
Lorenz home site
I do not receive any compensation for posting these anthems here; I just think they are terrific. Evelyn

Saturday, July 23, 2011

on Leadership - by Ralph Nadar

The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.

Ralph Nadar


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

With All I Am



Taylor Davis (Composer), John Thornburg (Author)
Two-part mixed, Cello
Lorenz home site
I do not receive any compensation for posting these anthems here; I just think they are terrific. Evelyn

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

When the World Says, "You just don't understand."


James 3:13-14 (New International Version, ©2011)

Two Kinds of Wisdom
 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.


"You just don't understand!" is usually said with one hand flung up -- palm out -- as if to push the listener away.  It's not usually said in the hopes of helping the listener to understand.  It's said as an accusation, as if the listener were at fault and somehow wrong because of their lack of understanding.

"You just don't understand!"

You're right -- I don't understand.  There are a lot of things I don't understand.  

I have often been told, "You're really smart."  I am. But that doesn't mean I understand everything -- or that I'm supposed to.

I am wise, though.  My wisdom comes from my life-experiences and deepens as I continue to live wrapped in God's loving arms.

Don't expect someone to understand what you've been through.  They're not going to have that knowledge nor will they have developed the same kind of wisdom you have.  

They shouldn't be expected to.

You want someone to understand you, though.  That's normal.  That's just.

Have you considered "showing" someone rather than "telling" someone?  Remember the saying "You could talk until you're blue in the face?"  How about "A picture is worth a thousand words." 

If you just can't get people to understand your words, maybe they are too busy watching your actions. 


When the world says, "You just don't understand."
God says, "Show me you understand by the way you live."



Teacher,
Teach me your ways.  Then help me live your ways.  As I'm living your ways, help me to teach others, not by the words of my mouth but by the actions of my life.  Let others understand your will by watching how I live.  Allow me to see that in others, too.  Amen.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Rock in the Lord



http://www.lorenz.com/Med/Sample/CGA1062.mp3


Rock My Soul
Kinley Lange (Composer), Kathryn Sparks (Composer)
SAB, Piano
Lorenz home site
I do not receive any compensation for posting these anthems here; I just think they are terrific. Evelyn

Saturday, July 9, 2011

on Leadership - by Walter Lippman

The final test of a leader is that he [she] leaves behind in others the conviction and will to carry on.

Walter Lippman


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

When the World Says, "You're nothing but a _______!"

Galatians 4:7 (King James Version)

 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.


   "You're nothing but a (insert terrible label here)!"

"You're nothing but a good-for-nothing (insert scathing noun here)!"

Are you?

If you are not, why waste your time listening to a liar?

If you are, confess it, repent it, and change.

Once you've changed, you are no longer a field hand or a house slave; you are adopted by God.  You become His child, with all the benefits and responsibilities of the heir to the throne.

Live that way.

When the World Says, "You're nothing but a ____"
God says, "You are my child."


My Lord, my Savior, my Father,
I used to be a lot of things.  Now I am your child.  Help me always to remember that.  Make me worthy of your inheritance.  Help me forgive those who are always reminding me of what I used to be. 
Amen.  

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Love Abides Forever



J Williams (Author), Jan Sanborn (Composer)
SATB
Lorenz home site
I do not receive any compensation for posting these anthems here; I just think they are terrific. Evelyn

Saturday, July 2, 2011