Brother's Keeper Ministries

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Light

Albert Schweitzer, a theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary, wrote “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us” which certainly reminds me that this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine and be grateful.

How often do you hear someone say “these times are changing” or “times are not what they used to be” or “back in my day…” I certainly use them now myself, and I am only 43 years young. The world I live in IS still the same as it was when I was 5 years old. The people have changed, the culture has changed, and yes, I have changed too.

There have been times in my life that my light went out, heck it didn’t just go out, it was stomped out, blew out, watered out, dried out, put out, cut out, and burned out! Or at least I thought at the time. Then a card, letter, phone call, email, text, touch, tear, prayer, or other spiritual connection happened and it was lit just like that. Nothing less than a very small spark was all it took to rekindle my light into a glowing, bright, powerful, loving, generating, life light.

It took a few life lessons for me to get that. It took a few hits with that 2x4 to get that. It took me getting older for my mom to get smarter… J

I am glad that my eyes of my eyes and the ears of my ears respond today as they do. It has allowed my heart of hearts and my mind of minds to absorb the knowledge, love, power and life that those many lighter sharers have shared with me so far. Thank you, thank you. Thank you!

I CAN BE THE CHANAGE I SEEK IN THIS WORLD… We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

I offer the following prayer “Universal God of life, love and spirit we ask that you help us be mindful gardeners of life who understand that without light nothing flowers, without rain nothing grows, and without love nothing lives. In your precious names we pray and give thanks, 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 Officiant’s-Premarital & Couples Coaching-Funeral Ministers-Pastoral Care.

(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 standing with American Association of Wedding Officiant’s. We receive training from the International Association of Faith Based Counselors.

www.inclusivelife.org Inclusive Life Wedding Officiant’s-Premarital Coaching-Funeral Ministers

www.ulcnetwork.socialgo.com Universal Life Church Social Network (and information)

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 Officiates

www.allaboutweddings.com All About Weddings

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Songs That Say Something

A song that spoke to me this morning was “O Light of Life” “O light of love, rain down on us, help us to heal our wounded world, our dying forests, gutted plains, smoldering cities, wasted fields. Save us, save our children.” Let us all open our eyes, reach out at listen and stand together in strength to make it better.

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

Friday, July 29, 2011

Kindness

We have more kindness inside us, than we have shared. We welcome those we know at work and in our homes. What about those on the street? Those whom we don’t know. Those next to us in church that look different, sound different, dress different, talk different? Follow you heart to extend kindness and hospitality, your heart knows!

It is easy to talk the talk. It is easy to be “good” for one day each week in front of others. When your worship ends does your service REALLY begin? At work; how do you welcome a new person or treat someone who is going through a crisis? Do you know your neighbor? How do you interact with your family? When you walk down the street and see a person who does not; smell like you, dress like you, or look like you… do you assume that they are homeless, without skills, lazy, entitlement seekers?

I know we are not perfect people, we have flaws and we all should strive to live good lives. What we do with the knowledge of our imperfections says a lot about us. Do we ignore them and say I am who I am, I am what I am and I do what I do either like or don’t? Or do we try to learn, grow and seek wisdom, enlightenment, knowledge that allows us the space and passion to make adjustments in how we live, what we do and how we do it?

We can be the change we seek in this world… I can remember that the most important journey I may take is meeting someone halfway.

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

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Earth

Alan Eddison shared with us that “Modern technology owes ecology an apology!” I remember growing up and watching the commercial that showed the Indian standing next to a polluted and trashed river with a single tear running down his face. Other than laws and corporate reforms how do we motivate each other to be better stewards of our world? We must not blow it, good planets are hard to find!

Three years ago, Beth Terry, like many other Americans chose double plastic bags, threw the plastic bottles in the trash and ate frozen dinners -- generating about 100 lbs of plastic waste a year. But after seeing a photo of the sea being filled with plastic products, she resolved to live a plastic free life. From January to November 2010, she generated less than 2 pounds of plastic waste. And she went further. Beth discovered that Clorox's US Brita water filters are recycled in Europe. 7 months, 16,000 signatures and 600 filters later, Beth successfully petitioned Clorox. Beth asks, "What difference can one person make?" Most of all, one person who reduces their plastic waste is motivated to drive for systemic change. As Beth states in her TEDx video, "We have the power to change the menu that's offered to us."

We can be the change we seek in this world… It starts with one change we EACH make in our life, then another, and encourage others to do the same.