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Ubuntu!

Guest Minister

Today at church our guest minister was Dan Hollard, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bozeman, Montana. Our pastor for the past 25+ years has been Rev. Jean Johnson. Jean is on disability leave right now … in a rehab facility in Great Falls, MT.

Pray for Jean

Join me in prayer for Rev. Jean Johnson’s release from pain and ability to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

Sunday Surprises

Meantime, it’s a surprise each Sunday to see who is in the pulpit and to hear a different kind of message. Today’s message was titled, “Spirit of Peace.” I think Dan Hollard must have spent some time in Africa, because he put on an authentic African accent and told us the story of Ubuntu (Oooo-boon-too).

He based his message on the scripture of Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

Here’s what I heard through my filter and took away this morning:

lunch table

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

There was a woman in Africa named Dorothy
Who embodied the spirit of Ubuntu
She was all about community and humanity.
Her kitchen was open to all … she’d welcome you.

She lived the spirit of Matthew 25:
If you see someone naked, clothe them.
If you see someone hungry, feed them.
We’re all one; you should never loathe them!

Dorothy was like a mother to all
Who entered her village; she’d invite
The hungry and poor to dine in her kitchen.
The sense of community was pure delight.

Like Nelson Mandela who invited his captors
To enjoy his inauguration feast,
Dorothy welcomed one and all –
Didn’t label anyone as one of the “least.”

Instead she lived a life that demonstrated
“I am who I am because of who we are.”
She knew “We are all connected.”
Her love lifted all people to “par.”

Everywhere in the world what we need
Is more Dorothys who live out Matthew 25.
Regardless of religion or color or creed,
We need Ubuntu to spread far and wide.

We must fill our world with love and joy.
We must fill the world with God’s peace.
We must feed the hungry and show respect
And love to all. Come and join my feast!

Shalom!

Ubuntu!
Have a Matthew 25 Sunday.
“I am because we are.”
We are all connected.

pexels-photo-887349-2
See you tomorrow.

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, food, friendship, Giving, God, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, peace, Poetry, prayer, respect, Serving One Another, writing

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Thoughtfulness

Top of Mt Baldy

Yesterday Bob & I took our ATV, our dog, our lunches, and our stamina on a ride with friends up to the top of Mt Baldy in the Tobacco Root Mountains. From my sanctuary window, I can see the snow-topped mountain off to the north-west of us.

Hard for you to see, with the sunlight reflections on the glass, but it’s out there through the angels in the distance… the tallest of the snow capped mountains.

What does all that have to do with thoughtfulness? Well, without the help of our friends, we wouldn’t have ventured up there!

First of all, some of the trails were really, really rocky and rough. We wouldn’t chance it alone!

Rocky trail up to Mt Baldy

Secondly, I could not have made that climb up from the trail where we left the ATVs without the help of my buddies!

With kind thoughtfulness, they each took one of my arms and climbed with me. They stopped to rest when my breathing got to panting instead. God bless ‘em!

At the 10,788 ft. level, the view was spectacular and the air coming off the snow on the peaks beside us was crisp and fresh.

I hope you’re as blessed as we are to have such thoughtful friends!

Our buddy/neighbor/guide was Rex, who (with his wife, Penny) led the way. We’d have been lost without him!

Have a thoughtful day, my friends. Who can you help with his/her climb today?

See ya tomorrow

Category:

blessings, friendship, Gratitude, Love, Montana, nature, photography, Travel

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Montana Adventure

Today was a perfect day to take Lucille (Our ATV with a red head who is a Ball), And go up into the mountains – Up on Mt. Baldy, more than 10,000 feet tall!

On our way up to Mt. Baldy (10K ft ahead of us)

Lucille is a trooper with Bob at the wheel. TazE loves riding with us on the mountain trails. Some of the roads are so rough, I cringe, But I am happy to have an “Oh My!” bar instead of wails.

Hang tight to the “Oh My!” bar. Secure TazE with her leash.

TazE crowded me as she leaned out the window of Lucille

Going with friends makes it extra fun; Five guys and three gals in five 4-wheelers. The area in the Tobacco Root Mountains Is full of rough terrain, rocks and squealers.

The views from up on top of Baldy Are breathtaking to be sure. The sky was a little hazy today, But the air was clean and pure.

Gene, with a recent new knee, made the rigorous climb from our ATVs to the top of the mountain (a steeper climb than it looks here!)

We were above the snow level Where the clouds seem so close We felt like we could touch them. I have more pictures than I can post!

Our lovely, protected setting for lunch on top of Mt. Baldy

Over my right shoulder a dilapidated mine Indicated that people once lived and worked In this place miles from civilization – For gold, lead, silver and copper – no one shirked.

Old mines dotted the trail as we headed down. I wished those old beams and rocks could talk. They would have wonderful stories to tell – Lived through many a death and untold shocks.

On down the mountain on rocky trails, We were careful to not tip over the edge. The paths were narrow with no side rails – I held TazE and tried not to look at the ledge!

Bob driving Lucille – in a rocky spot with a wider ledge than most

Ennis Lake from the Tobacco Roots to the Madison Range

We tried to stay in view of the Polaris Traveling on the trail in our lead, But we didn’t want to be too close To eat his dust as he picked up speed. That’s our Madison Valley and Ennis Lake In the middle of this view. As we headed back, the sun was warmer And we wished we could share this trip with YOU!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek Come back soon for more adventures and inspiration.

Category:

friendship, Love, Montana, nature, photography, Poetry, Travel

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Do Something Prodigious

Hmmm… Bob & I had a big discussion this morning after I read Christian Mihai’s post on “The Art of Blogging” and he challenged us to “Do something prodigious today.”
https://cristianmihai.net/2019/08/06/the-right-kind-of-mindset/

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

What does prodigious mean?

Well, my dictionary says prodigious
is an adjective that means “huge or enormous.”

Some synonyms are:

colossal

fantastic

immense

tremendous

monumental

wonderful

marvelous

What can I do today that would fit one of those descriptions?

Test Yourself

At the end of the day, how will I answer these questions?

What are your plans?

I plan to go to Bozeman-Yellowstone Airport (it’s an hour away) and pick up my second cousin once removed, Sofia, who is flying here from California. She just graduated from high school this June, is headed for college next month, and will spend a week with Bob & me here in Montana.

Going to get her and hosting her is not a prodigious act! But, it could be a prodigious experience for us all.

Anytime you bring someone into your home for an overnight – whether just one night or a week or a month or a year – fantastic, wonderful, marvelous things can happen.

Live with Expectations of Grandeur

I expect our week with Sofia to be filled with prodigius moments! I have a hand ready to help, an ear ready to hear and a heart full of love – ready to pour itself out on this delightul young lady.

Bob is a wonderful conversationalist who will ask a million questions. You can count on it! We hope to learn a lot from Sofia’s eighteen-year-old perspective as we share a piece of our lives with her as well.

Heart:ear:hand.jpg

Stay tuned.
I’ll share our prodigious experiences
with you, my friends.

With love…

pexels-photo-887349-2
See ya tomorrow

Category:

blogging, Family, friendship, Giving, learning, life, Love, Serving One Another, Sharing, Travel

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Making Friends

It’s easy to say, “Make Friends.”
But how do you do that?
It’s not as easy as it sounds.
Not like putting on a hat.

To have a friend, you must
Be a friend, they say.
I say that’s important…
But there’s another important way.

To have a friend, you must
Reach out and share your heart.
You can’t be afraid of rejection –
You just have to be the start.

Be the start by helping others.
Be the start by praying.
Be the start by being compassionate.
Be a friend who’s there for playing.

Play the games they like to play.
Invite them over for tea and toast.
Go out riding on your ATV, or
Ask them what they like the most.

Don’t limit talk to texting words.
Don’t just “friend” on a Facebook page.
Call ’em up. Send a card. Drop by.
Go out for lunch or go dance on a stage!

Friendship is like Love, I think.
It’s a verb, an act of doing.
Lost a friend you used to love?
Reach out and start renewing.

Renew your commitment to be the one
Who is steady, honest, and true.
That friendship can be kindled afresh.
But being a friend is UP TO YOU!