People

Every word has three definitions and three interpretations. How do we live together in a world of differences? So much depends on our ability to handle our conflicts; happiness at home, our performance at work, the livability of our communities, and, in this age, the survival of our species! Some say there is two sides to each story and the truth is in the middle. Perhaps the "third" side of conflict is love.

I am not the same person today that I was 20 years ago. There were times in my life that I didn't find displeasure in letting others know I have something they don't, I have something better than they do, I can do something they can't and if I helped them I let them know how much it cost to help them.

It does not take a rocket scientist or great mathematician to know that sometime soon, that behavior would “crash!” And it did! I got “hit” with a 2x4, kind of like Fred Sanford saying “hey you big dummy!” You have so much to offer, you were raised better than this, you WILL be the person you are destined to be!

People who didn’t look like me, smell like me, dress like me, acted like me, talked like me were no longer objects of labels, judgements or ridicule. They began to be questions to me. Who are you? Where did you come from? What is your life like? And many others.

I learned that those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves. I can be the change that I seek in this world. One lesson, one experience and one moment in time.

I offer this following Sunday morning prayer/meditation “Define source of love, light and life we give thanks for the many life lessons that have been bestowed upon our life journeys. For those living in darkness let them have light to see where they walk. For those who walk without love let the light warm them to know love and for those who are lost on the journey let them know they are beautiful, loved and worthy and not alone.” Amen.

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiants-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-and much more…

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.

Inclusive Life is a member in good sanding with American Association of Wedding Officiants. We also partner with other industry experts like Wedding Wire, Eventective, Gathering Guide, Decidio, Wedding Manor, WedPlan, and My Wedding to provide networking abilities for those selecting officiating services as well as other ceremony services.


www.inclusivelife.org
Inclusive Life Wedding Officiants-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.2grooms2brides.com
2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org
Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org
Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org
Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org
Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org
Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org
Wedding and Ceremony Officiants

www.allaboutweddings.com
All About Weddings

Saturday

Good morning friends, family and world. I was without computer yesterday, I missed you all! I hope all is well today for you and your family.

Speaking of family, last night I had an "ah-ha" moment. We invited 4 other couples for dinner. This was not a random you call come dinner, but 4 other specific couples were inivted for a reason. One couple is fairly new to the group. They are in a newly formed relationship. It is amazaing watching each of them grow and change, I am glad that they are a part of something so amazaing... relationship!

Speaking of relationship. I have spoke before about a "family of friends." I have friends all across this contienent. I also have people who although not related by blood we are related by everthing else that symbolizing a family unit.

The three remaining couples... One couple has almost reached their 1 year anniversary. Both learning, having fun and growing through some difficult life journeys. Before they left last night we had a converstion about some of all of that. We closed by sharing some heartfelt words and joining in prayer, for me it was most meaingful, authentic and healing. An other couple facinates me. They seem so uncomplicated dispite what ails them. I am in awe of their automatic ease in which they live their life. They seem to "stand" through any challenge and they keep smiling. I congratulate their life experience and am glad to call them family.

Speaking of challenge, the last couple. We stood up for them when they were married in church. It was one of the biggest honors I could have been given. We shared some challenges in the last year that didn't bring us together it actually allowed us to grow a part. At times I was just fine with that. As I continue to learn, experience and readust things make sense. As I get older, my mom gets smarter... LOL. These two people mean a great deal to me, and realized last night how much they loved me (us) AND that anything that kept us from being in right relationship with each other, was trivial, small, and insignificant. As I tried to explain some of this as they left I was choked up enough where I could not talk. I was given a known wink, look and hug. In that moment I felt love, gladness and family. Again. A lesson in love by family, with family and for family.

As we travel through our lifes journey, we will encounter hurdles, mountains (coming down and going up!), and a river or two. A few thing will get you through any of it. Compassion. Commitment. Communication. Prayer/Meidation. I know I add the last... family. Albert Einstein had this right... "Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!"

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiants-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-and much more…

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.

Inclusive Life is a member in good sanding with American Association of Wedding Officiants. We also partner with other industry experts like Wedding Wire, Eventective, Gathering Guide, Decidio, Wedding Manor, WedPlan, and My Wedding to provide networking abilities for those selecting officiating services as well as other ceremony services.

www.inclusivelife.org

Inclusive Life Wedding Officiants-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.2grooms2brides.com

2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org

Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org

Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org

Wedding and Ceremony Officiants

www.allaboutweddings.com

All About Weddings

Tuesday

I see picketers, and I think, if I weren't a loving, non-violent, spiritual person, I would over there, grab those signs, smash them over their heads and shove them up their…

As funny as that joke may be, do we not sometimes react like that what we see, hear, experience, and read today? Many have seen signs that contain hurtful, hateful, and untrue messages. What makes it more confusing is that sometimes these very signs are being held up by people who claim to be of a religious faith. Then you start to think, what is their purpose, who or what do they worship that leads them to promote those kinds of words?!

“Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being.” Remember at all times that YOU are beautiful. YOU are loved. YOU are worthy. Just the way YOU are. You are never alone!

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiants-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-and much more…

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services

Inclusive Life is a member in good sanding with American Association of Wedding Officiants. We also partner with other industry experts like Wedding Wire, Eventective, Gathering Guide, Decidio, Wedding Manor, WedPlan, and My Wedding to provide networking abilities for those selecting officiating services as well as other ceremony services.

www.inclusivelife.org

Inclusive Life Wedding Officiants-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.2grooms2brides.com

2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org

Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org

Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org

Wedding and Ceremony Officiants

www.allaboutweddings.com

All About Weddings

TGIM (Thank Goodness It's Monday!)

Say "Thank You" all the time. This is the remover of mountains, your thankful heart! Let us give thanks for a bounty of friends.

For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers, keep reminding us that we've had them;

For crotchety friends, as sour as rhubarb and as indestructible;

For handsome friends who are as gorgeous as eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn;

For plain friends, who, like potatoes, are so good for you;

For funny friends, who are as silly as Brussel Sprouts and as amusing as Jerusalem artichokes;

For serious friends, as complex as cauliflowers and as intricate as onions;

For friends as unpretentious as cabbages, as subtle as summer squash, as persistent as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless as zucchini, and who, like parsnips, can be counted on to see you through the winter;

For old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the evening time;

For young friends, growing as fast as radishes;

For loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils and hold us, despite our blights, wilts and witherings;

And finally, for those friends now gone, like gardens past that have been harvested, but who fed us in their times that we might have life thereafter; for this bounty of friends we give thanks.

PS: As the Midwest continues to fill sandbags, evacuate those living within miles of the Missouri River and shutting down electricity; I ask you to share hope, thoughts, and prayers to be with those who are affected, those who are helping and those who may be out of contact with family and friends. The river will be rising 1-2 feet each week in the next month.

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiants-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-and much more…

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.

Inclusive Life is a member in good sanding with American Association of Wedding Officiants. We also partner with other industry experts like Wedding Wire, Eventective, Gathering Guide, Decidio, Wedding Manor, WedPlan, and My Wedding to provide networking abilities for those selecting officiating services as well as other ceremony services.

www.inclusivelife.org

Inclusive Life Wedding Officiants-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.2grooms2brides.com

2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org

Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org

Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org

Wedding and Ceremony Officiants

www.allaboutweddings.com

All About Weddings

Love, Truth, Life...

Mother Teresa reminded us that "There is a famine in America. Not a famine of food, but of love, of truth, of life." How do you define love? How do you define truth? How do you define life? Where, how and when do you learn them? In a time that up to 70% of the population does not attend worship on a regular basis where, how and who is American’s turning to for fellowship and a place to be in community?

In my experience as an Interfaith Chaplain many individuals and couples have shared with me that they are running from churches because they don’t want fire and brimstone. They don’t want to be a part of intolerance. They are hungry for a positive, inclusive message of love, life and truth. 75% of those whom I serve are heterosexual individuals and couples. These are their words! I would have expected that feedback and those feelings for those from the GLBT Community, I was surprised to realize how many heterosexuals feel the same way.

It is a call for all leaders of faith to take note that there is much to be learned in the “bed side” manner that we provide. Fire and brimstone are out! Realistic-positive messages are in. intolerance is out! Open, affirming and inclusive is in. Most say that one thing is preached or taught yet they experience just the opposite.

In a recent survey, less than 18 percent of Americans say the church is the friendliest place in town (thechristianpost.com) The some 750 surveyed Americans, 500 of whom were Christian, said the most important factor that makes a place friendly is "making me feel like I belong." Subsequent factors include "making me feel comfortable" and "at ease," conversation, smiles and being non-judgmental.

In another notable finding, ministers or religious leaders are ranked fifth on the friendliest people in town list. Most surveyed Americans named "a close friend" and "family member" as the friendliest person. Meanwhile, ministers were ranked behind neighbors and co-workers.

Regardless of your belief, everyone should have access to a place of worship that you feel welcomed, honored, accepted, and valued.

We know that not everyone has the exact same belief, we know that everyone will question components of a specific doctrine or dogma. It is important to make space for people to ask questions, challenge, and freedom to choose how they choose to worship, what they choose as their truth. It is then and only then will you have created space for everyone to be at the table, truly!

I offer this prayer “Heavenly Parent, Heavenly Father, Guardian Spirits, Mother and Father Earth, God of Love, God of Hope, God of Life, God of Light we ask for gifts of peace, love, and tolerance. Let us have life by living by the truths that each person comes to know. Through that let our love shine for one another as you offer in your many teachings. As it was, is now and forever shall be. Amen.”

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiants-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-and much more…

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.

Inclusive Life is a member in good sanding with American Association of Wedding Officiants. We also partner with other industry experts like Wedding Wire, Eventective, Gathering Guide, Decidio, Wedding Manor, WedPlan, and My Wedding to provide networking abilities for those selecting officiating services as well as other ceremony services.

www.inclusivelife.org

Inclusive Life Wedding Officiants-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.2grooms2brides.com

2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings for Council Bluffs, Iowa

www.weddingsinomaha.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Omaha area

www.weddingsinlincoln.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Lincoln area

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org

Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in the Council Bluffs area

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org

Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska worship & fellowship

www.funeralministers.org

Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers serving Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa

www.ceremonyofficiants.org

Wedding and Ceremony Officiants

www.allaboutweddings.com

All About Weddings

Saturday, something to think about

We spend up to 80% of our awake hours communicating in someway, and 45% of that time is spent listening. How do we listen? There is more to listening than hearing words. There is emotion, body language and eye contact. Focus on the event of listening of others as you would like to be listened to.

Most people will remember and retain about 7% of what you say. 38% will happen to remember the tone of voice you used. And 55% will remember and respond to your general body language. We think faster than we speak or listen, leaving us with much room for distraction. As a result, the average listener understands and retains only 50% of what is said in a 10-minute presentation

Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.

Be the change you seek in this world, remember the “The first duty of love is to listen.”

Who can individuals, couples and families turn to when they need care & services traditionally found by a place of worship? US! We are Inclusive Life, and we serve all without exception. We know that up to 70% of the population in America does not attend worship on a regular basis, so we are here to provide care & services to everyone regardless of they attend worship or not. Wedding Officiants-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-and much more…

(402) 575-7006 www.inclusivelife.org [TEXT ‘ceremony’ to 90210 for TEXT info!]

Inclusive Life is very proud to be a member of “All About Weddings”, a local organization focusing on bringing together premier local vendors that provide wedding services.

Inclusive Life is a member in good sanding with American Association of Wedding Officiants. We also partner with other industry experts like Wedding Wire, Eventective, Gathering Guide, Decidio, Wedding Manor, WedPlan, and My Wedding to provide networking abilities for those selecting officiating services as well as other ceremony services.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiants

www.2grooms2brides.com 2 Grooms 2 Brides Same Sex Weddings

www.weddingsinomaha.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in Omaha

www.weddingsinlincoln.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in Lincoln

www.weddingsincouncilbluffs.org Religious and Nonreligious Weddings in Council Bluffs

www.spiritualfriendsofnebraska.org Spiritual Friends of Lincoln Nebraska

www.funeralministers.org Inclusive Life Funeral Ministers

www.ceremonyofficiants.org Wedding and Ceremony Officiants

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings