Book Bindery July 19, 2004

Uncle Pete… “That was close.” Some would be unhappy at being buried in hay. Uncle Pete was thankful to be found. Joy and hope are always hiding there. You’ve got to move the hay and look for it. Matt Baritone Matt found joy…Matt brought me joy. He took it. Aaron Wade… song to the Lord. It the midst of his handicap, he moved the hay and found the joy. So…how do we find it?

1st: stop keeping score. A friend of mine…actually, I don’t like her terribly well, but she’s a friend of mine. Keeps score in church. New lady minister. Miffed. Same hymn two weeks in a row. Forgot the announcements. Sometimes I purposely walk by her with my sandaled feet. The sadness…she’s completely missing the Joy because of her score keeping. She’s constantly searching for reasons to be unhappy. Do you keep score? Were you planning on keeping score today?

2nd: Do you really have to be right? St. Augustine said, “Heal me of this lust of mine to always vindicate myself.” It’s your job to make the world better. It’s not your job to fix everyone in the world. Johnstone: “Hottest places in hell are for the gripers and complainers.” Where in the bible does it say, “Thou shalt get it off your chest?”

Praise crushes griping. Praise crushes criticism. Helen Dickens. Conway Twitty. I often speak on stress control….to various groups…I must guard not being stressed going in. Peoria caterpillar strike. Picket line… 6-hour workshop on stress control. This morning…blood..ant.. “Who pays for this?” And besides…30-year study released last week. Short-term stresses increases your immunity.. Move the hay and find your joy.