Saturday, November 29, 2008

Praying moms make a difference

Praying Moms



Elizabeth Hamilton wrote an a
rticle that talked about a group of women who meet each week to pray for their kids and for the schools in the region.She said, "If you're a school principal in Connecticut, it's possible a group of moms is praying for you every week. Not because you, specifically, need their prayers (although who amongst us couldn't benefit from an extra prayer now and then) but because that's what these moms do.

The mothers get together regularly to pray for safe classrooms and for healthy classrooms. They even pray for Mastery Test scores. The group is part f an international movement called Moms in Touch and they have been meeting for the last three years. Mary Beth Lawrence, a mother of five, is the state coordinator. Right now there are 107 groups in the state.

Moms in Touch s a Christian organization but it cuts across denominational lines and includes moms from both Catholic churches and Protestant churches. Their goal is not to push religion in schools and as a result they have turned down opportunities to advertise through the PTO. They don't want to to give anyone the wrong impression. They simply want to pray for the teachers and staff that educate their children. For if the teachers are blessed, the students will be blessed too.

Most groups meet for an hour with a specific agenda to keep them focused. The group also does some concrete things to support the staff. One group put microwave popcorn in the teacher's room and it was met with quiet cheers. Some of the teachers really appreciate the fact that the group supports them this way and it shows in increased morale.


You can find the complete article at http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-newprayingmoms.artnov29,0,5069710.story

I don't think that it would take much to start a group of praying mothers here. If anyone is interested, we would be happy to host it here in Norwich at First Baptist. Or if you have a group already meeting at your church, let me know and maybe we can help pump it up with new enthusiasm.

Cal

Friday, November 28, 2008

Homecoming days

I am so excited. I picked up my daughter, Rebecca, at the train station the other night. She has been living in New York City the last two years and it seems like her trips home have become less and less frequent. She is busy teaching school and making a life for herself. I guess that is what our children are supposed to do.

The good news is that she is only a phone call away. I talk to her about once a week. If she needs something or if something comes to mind that one of us needs to share with the other, we pick up the phone and make contact. Of course she is in touch with her mother much more frequently. They seem to talk every day. That's okay with me. I enjoy getting news second hand just as much as if I hear it directly from her. I just want to know that she is happy and she is safe.

Next week we get another homecoming as our daughter, Sarah, returns from her semester abroad in Sydney, Australia. She has been gone since the middle of July and the whole family will be heading to JFK Airport to greet her arrival. Homecomings are always sweet.
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I guess that is why I look forward to worship every week. It is a mini homecoming with God and his family. I look forward to seeing everyone and singing the hymns of faith. I enjoy hearing the Word of God read and seeing the smiles and handshakes as people greet each other.

The best part is that God looks forward to it as much as we do. So if you haven't been to church in a while, why not make play to go this week. You will enjoy it and so will God.

Cal

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

I was looking for something that says "thank you" in a new and different way and I came across this music video from Kirk Franklin and Mary, Mary. I hope you enjoy it as you gear up for your own Thanksgiving.

Cal

Sunday, November 23, 2008

What will you leave behind?

I came across this Rich Mullins video and fell in love with it. I had heard his name but didn't know his music. Or at least I didn't think I knew his music. Then I read that he wrote "Awesome God and several other classic Christian hits.

As I began trying to see what else he had written and to find out more about him, I was shocked to learn that he died in a car accident in 1997. My first thought was where have I been? Have I been living in a cave. Now this is probably old news to most of you. You are probably thinking "This guy is a Christian and he didn't know this?"

Well I am relatively new to the Christian music scene. (I just heard a Jars of Clay song today and flipped over it.) But what struck me about Richie Mullins is the fact that his work continues to share his witness. That means that eleven years after he has died and gone to heaven, the ripples created by his faith and his work in the world are still touching people and turning hearts to God.

All of us are called to share God's love. We are called to use our unique God given gifts to reach out and touch others. Some do it through song. Others through teaching or philanthropy, or mentoring or greeting or simply loving. I pray that your life and witness may continue to bless others long after you are gone. What a testimony that will be to your life. (Although let's hope that this post life witness doesn't begin for many years. :-)

Cal

Friday, November 21, 2008

We have been chosen to serve

It's pretty funny to think about the fact that President -elect Barak Obama is getting high marks on his choices for cabinet members from all the talking heads. Someone even suggested that the stock was responding positively today to one of the selections.

It made me think of Jesus' choices to run his transition team and fill his high level posts. That's right he chose the twelve disciples to start it off but over the years he filled positions by calling on people like you and me. The truth is, if we are honest, I don't think many people would give him high marks. Yet the hope of the world rests on what we do with the calling God has given us.

We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. We are to spread his love, offer his grace and call people into relationship with him. If we don't do it, the job will not be done. The most amazing thing is the fact that despite the world's lack of confidence in us, God believes we can do it. That is great news. He believes in us.

So let us go out and do what needs to be done.

Cal

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A prayer for our soldiers

It is cold outside so I thought I might step into some hot water for a few minutes and talk about the War in Iraq. It seems as though the media has polarized this just like it tries to polarize everything else. We get this sense that either you are for it or against it. I think the truth is that most Americans wants to bring our troops home as quickly as possible. Some think it has to be today. Others think it has to be done over time.

We also may disagree on whether we had to go over there or not. It is pretty easy to look back and say they were no weapons of mass destruction and President Bush acted foolishly. What I try to remind people is that psychologically we were damaged after September 11th. We saw threats everywhere and it wasn't just the President who was nervous about Iraq. Just about everyone in Congress voted to go ahead with sanctions and use force if needed.

The question we need to ask is are we safer now than we were then and are the people in Iraq better off now. The answer can be debated but I believe it is yes to both. We don't always get the good stories from the front. But there are enough of them going around. The cost has been steep, paid in young lives, but the majority of young men and women who have served believe it was worth the cost.

This goes to the deeper question in my mind. As Christians, do we ever have the obligation to step up and denounce what is wrong? Does that also at times require us to use force to put down evil? I know that we don't have a Christian government. We aren't even a Christian nation anymore. Where does our responsibility end.

It is so easy to pick our causes. Amnesty International pleads for human rights and works to bring about justice around the world. When they see evil, they speak up. The genocide in Darful is coming to light. Can we stand by and do nothing? Human slave trading is taking place all over the world and it is sanctioned by some governments. How do we respond?

Right now I believe we ought to stop fighting each other and begin to pray for those who are serving in the military. Many of them believe in what they are doing. They are establishing order and trying to make this world a safer place. In our congregation we have at least five of our young people serving overseas right now. It is hell for them but they are proud of what they are doing. They believe they are doing good. So let's pray for an end to war, but remember those who are serving.

Cal

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

It always comes back to you

I received a note today from one of my heroes. He doesn't even know who I am but none-the-less he took the time to send this message. It read;

Dear Friend,

Your kind greetings on the occasion of my 90th birthday were a great encouragement to me, and I want to thank you for taking time to write to me. I feel humbled and overwhelmed by the thousands of messages people have sent me. At the age of 90, I am responding to you by e-mail—something new for me! (Though I must admit that my staff is having to help me send it!)

You will be interested to know that I had wonderful celebrations for my birthday with family and close friends.

The prayers and support of people like you over the years have meant more to me than I can ever express, and I am grateful for your partnership with us in the work of the Gospel. Most of all, I am grateful for God’s constant faithfulness down through the years.

May God richly bless you.

Cordially yours,
Billy Graham Signature
Last month I received an e-mail from Franklin Graham asking for people to send in notes to his dad telling how he had touched our lives. He suggested this could be our way to say Happy Birthday to him. I sat down and sent along a note that expressed how I had been inspired by his love for the Lord and it helped me make a decision to go into ministry.

It was one of those things you do without any real expectation that THE Billy Graham would sit down and read it. I think that is why this letter struck me today. Someone read my note and the tons of others and responded to them. You can sense the heartfelt emotion in the note and realize that this was a special gift for a man who gave his life as God's servant. The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham was moved by the number of letters that came to him from around the world. He was blessed by them and with the help of his staff he acknowledged all of us who wrote.

It made me think of Harry Chapin's song, "All my life's a Circle." Everything that goes around, comes around again. Solomon said it best in the book of Ecclesiastes.

"Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. .. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well."

It always works that way. When we pass on a kindness, it won't be long before it comes back to us. Today I was blessed by the man who blessed me over thirty five years ago. And I lift up my hands to praise God and say thank you.

Cal

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Carpenter from Galilee can fix your broken heart

I got some news today that touched me deeply and made me realize just how broken so many of us are. We have been hurt or scarred or knocked down by the world. As I drove from here to Waterbury for a meeting, I kept thinking about a number of people I had talked to and prayed for over the last two weeks. In almost every situation, the individuals were dealing with pain that ran very deep from hurts caused by others.

I kept thinking about one of the toys I had as a kid. Shortly after I received it, I dropped it and broke a piece of it right off. I cried and no matter how much I wished it hadn't happened or how hard I tried to put it back together again, it just didn't work.

Sometimes life is like that. The Good News is that God knows and he understands. He specializes in brokenness and he has the magic touch to help put our lives back together again. I came across this music video that speaks to this subject and I thought I would pass it along.

May God pick you up in His arms and put you back together again with his love.

Cal

Monday, November 17, 2008

God cares about us more than we know.

I can't find my book. I was reading "The Shack" and somehow I laid it aside and can't find it now. Have you ever lost something? I have searched high and low and pulled everything apart without any luck. As I was down on my knees I started to laugh. I thought about the story in Luke 15 of the woman who had lost a coin and searched her whole house. Suddenly that story seemed more real than it had before. I could picture her doing what she did.

The point of that story is that God does the same thing when looking for us. He turns the world upside down to bring us home. He won't stop until we are safe in his arms again. It is a wonderful feeling to know God cares that much.

Cal

Sunday, November 16, 2008

A gift for music

When it is done well, organ music can be a delight to the ear. Diana Norton Jackson took center stage in a recital at Norwich's Central Baptist Church today. She hopped on the bench and proceeded to take the audience on a ride through history. She played selections from Back, Bonnet, Bossi and Boellman.

I'm not that knowledgeable about classical music, but Jackson made the key board come to life. This was especially true in piece entitled, "Pifferari" by composer Louis Lefebure-Wely. As her fingers danced across the keyboard you could almost see the people coming down out of the hills to celebrate and dance with glee.

It struck me that this always happens when we let our God given gifts lead us. Diane did it on the organ but the truth is that it happens every day with people like you and me. The Bible tells us that God has given everyone of us at least one gift. When we choose to use it for God's glory, good things happen. We inspire others and we make God smile.

So use what you have and put on a show for God.

Cal

Friday, November 14, 2008

This couple makes a splash on their wedding day

I always try to make my wedding rehearsals fun and relaxing. Usually I tell a story or two about the worst experiences I have known in my twenty five years of ministry. This week a friend sent me this video of a wedding that has to be one of the most horrifying/ funniest moments in wedding history. Everyone will talk about and remember this wedding for the rest of their lives.






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I was wondering afterwards if this was a Baptist preacher and this was his way of reaching out to a new member at the same time as he was marrying her!

Did you have something funny or unusual happen at your wedding? Drop me a note and tell me about it.

Cal

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Loving God and our Neighbor

We just finished reading through Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, at church. The thing that struck me was the simple fact that we were all created to share the love of God. It begins with loving God and then turning that love outward to our neighbors and friends. I don't know why we get that wrong in the church at times.

I came across this music video tonight and it really speaks to that mission s i thought I would share it with you.

Cal

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

A Real Cast of Characters

"Whatever that noise is, I wish they'd shut it off," Max Lucado wrote in his latest book, Cast of Characters. He is telling about a trip he took with his family to see Iguacu Fallis in Brazil. Max was living there at the time and he wanted to impress his mom and her friend with all that he had learned about the world's largest waterfall. He was chatting away with all the facts and figures he had committed to memory as they wound their way through the jungle and got closer to the waterfall. The noise grew louder and louder so that he was shouting to be heard above the roar.

He says, "Only after reaching the clearance did I realize that the noise we heard was the waterfall... My words were drowned out by the force and fury of what I was trying to describe..."Lucado says as he looked at the massive waterfall all he could do was stand in awe of what God had done. Words could not describe the works of His hand.

The story serves as segue into Max's visitation of the Biblical story of Job. Lucado says "There are times when to speak is to violate the moment... when silence represents the highest respect." In the next few paragraphs Max brings Job to life and we can almost picture him debating and chatting away with his friends while God waits in the wings and listens. As the momentum builds we can imagine God stepping onto the stage and watch as Job looks up at him in awe as God finally has his say.

Lucado finishes his little story by saying that sometimes when the storms of life come, like they did to Job, like they do to all of us, we need to simply be still and set our sights on Him. For when we look on Him, nothing seems impossible, nothing seems beyond our grasp and hope returns again.

If you are looking for an inspirational read, this is it. I just finished reading Max Lucado's "Cast of Characters" and I highly recommend it. Max has a way of bringing the biblical characters to life. He connects the dots and adds color and character. In this book we meet the famous (Paul, Moses, David and Peter), the not so famous (Nicodemus, Esther,Jairus and Lazarus), and the nameless ones (the rich young ruler, the Samaritan woman, the paralyzed man and the two criminals at Golgatha) and learn a bit about them and their world. Lucado even takes some literary liberty and helps us connect to some of them by putting them in a world that we know.

For example Max introduces us to Hank, a custodian who wanders the halls of of a big office building with his mop bucket. Hank used to be Henry and he worked in an office like this. He had power and prestige. He was the boss. But then he went and killed a man. It was an accident. A thug had attacked an innocent man and when he intervened, Henry lost control and he hit the mugger too hard and killed him. He ran instead of facing the music. He took this job and left the rest all behind. That is until the day God spoke to him from out of the mop bucket! The first words he heard were these: "Take off your shoes, for you are on Holy Tile!" Sound familiar?

The point Max tries to make as he introduces us to the modern day Moses is that God speaks to all of us in unusual and unexpected ways. God reminds us that He is still with us no matter what we've done and He still has a job for us to do if we are willing to accept it.

I couldn't put this book down. It is written in short, easy to read chapters. Every character we meet has a compelling story and it is easy to see ourselves or someone we know in the eyes of the man or woman he brings to us. His point is that God uses common people to make a difference in the world. Their stories, our stories reveal the wonderful grace of God that is all around us.

So go get your copy now. You will thank me later.

Cal

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

God's will is for you to be blessed

A friend of mine sent me this note a little while ago.

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.' Something good will happen to you today; something that you have been waiting to hear.

There is an abiding truth in this statement. Sometimes we think we know what we want and we pray for it with all our heart. We come away disappointed when we don't receive what we ask for. So often though, we look back and see that God had something better planned for us.

Whether it is the bitter disappointment of losing or job or the breakdown of our marriage or the opportunity that we missed we need to have faith that God is good and that he always has our best interest at heart. Hold on. Have faith. Keep praying that God's will be done and you will be blessed.

Cal

When God says "No"

Every week I get a short meditation from evangelist Luis Palau. Luis came to New London County a few years back for a regional "Festival." He was great and I signed up for his newsletter. It keeps me informed as to how and where God is using him. It also speaks to my heart through these brief devotionals.

Today's devotional was especially pertinent because I recently met a young woman who was going through a difficult time. She was praying to God with all her heart. She told me it seemed to her that God wasn't listening because her prayers weren't being answered.

Luis has something to say about that. He talks about the fact that sometimes God says "No" to our prayer requests. Even if we think what we want is best, God has something better for us.

Luis says,

Do you believe that God hears your prayers? And if He hears them, do you believe that He answers them? This week, we'll look at five specific ways God answers prayer. Not just mine but yours too!

The first is the answer we most dread. It's when God says, "No, my child, I love you too much." It's hard when God says "no" to our heartfelt requests. Have you experienced this? I certainly have. Take, for example, when my friend Diane started losing her hearing. When my mother-in-law came down with polio. When my father died. God said "no" to each of my requests, leaving me wrestling with the reality of His "no" answer.

In the Psalms in the Bible, many times David cries out to God to answer his prayers. But if God answers with "no," does that mean we shouldn't bother to pray? No! Just the opposite. The Bible tells us, "to be patient in affliction" and "faithful in prayer."

Whom do you know who may feel as though God is saying "no" to them? Be an encouragement for them. Continue to remind them of Christ's unending love, even through the hard times. Tell them that even through the storms, God is there and wants to draw near.


If you would like to sign up for his newsletter you can go to http://www.palau.org/resources/e-newsletter


Cal

Music. It is essential to life isn't it? It sets the mood and can change our whole outlook on life. I think that is why it is so important in our worship services. I know a lot of churches have debated on style. Some like the old Gospel hymns played on the piano. Others like the classical pieces played on the organ. Some prefer the contemporary sound of the choruses played by bands with guitars and drums.

I don't think it matters as much as the fact that we use it to tell the story to a given group of people. On Sunday night we were treated to a night of choral music and the Annual Choir Festival in Norwich. Ten choirs from across the city came together with each bringing a favorite anthem to share. During the course of the evening we got a taste of what worship was like in each of the churches represented. From the lively foot stomping music of Lee Memorial United Methodist to the a capella sound of St. Nicholas Orthodox each church came with their unique sound. From the old gospel tune of Central Baptist to the beautiful harmonies of the Cathedral choir you could sense that God was being honored. From the sweet melodies of St. Mark's Lutheran to the up tempo sound of the First Baptist choir you could tell that everyone was having fun.

The evening came to a climax with the group coming together for a piece featuring the combined voices of all the choirs. Mr. Doug Green was this year's guest conductor. He is the Music Director at the Cathedral of St. Patrick and well respected among his colleagues. In less than an hour he had us singing like we had been practicing together for months. It was a fitting end to a marvelous evening.

Cal

Saturday, November 8, 2008

We worship the Lord

In preparation for worship in the morning, I like to get myself in the mood on Saturday night. I look for music and inspirational videos. As I finish up my sermon, I can't help but feel close to God. Here is a good one that you might enjoy.

Cal

Friday, November 7, 2008

A prayer for our troops

The troops are far from home. Tonight as we celebrate the great freedoms we enjoy in our country, let us think of the men and women in uniform and pray for them. We pray they will be safe and God's hand will be upon them. We pray the battle will soon be over and the Iraqi people will be able to defend themselves. We pray our troops may soon be coming home.

We also lift up the men and women in Afghanistan. We pray that God will be with them and help them achieve their goals. Then we pray He will bring them safely home.

We pray for the families of all the men in women in uniform. That God will stand with them and comfort them in their fear and worry.

Enjoy this video and song as you think of them in your prayers today.

Cal

God's plan is going ahead full steam

I found this on God tube and I think it presents a fundamental truth. Over the last twenty years there has been a sense that if we don't pick a certain man to be President, our country will suffer great damage. The religious community has gone to great lengths to promote one candidate over another as if our future depended on it.

Well it is important to vote our conscience. We need to get the facts and make good choices. This year we were presented with two very good, honorable men. The media tried to paint unflattering pictures of both of them. But my faith tells me that God was ready to use either one. He let us choose.

Today our job is to pray for the President. We are to pray for our nation and its leaders. We are to pray for our world. And god will take care of things. He is still in control. Praise God for that.

The top people in Jesus' administration

It is interesting to watch the political maneuvering that is taking place after the election. Everyone wants to be in the new President's cabinet. It reminds me of a discussion that took place on a dark night about two thousand years ago. Jesus had just announced that he was going away. Before he could get the words out of his mouth, the disciples were already drawing straws to see who would be the top gun.

Jesus heard their talk and tried to set the record straight. He told them the greatest in his kingdom would be the one who would be a servant. That political philosophy still works with Jesus. He calls the people who would be in his cabinet to put on aprons and begin serving the needs of those around us. That is the call to the church today. We need to reach out with God's love. We need to feed the hungry, minister to the sick and lame and preach good news to those in our prisons.

Cal

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A prayer for our new President

I was watching CNN this afternoon and saw an interview with some children in a charter school in Harlem. They were so excited about Senator Barka Obama's Presidential victory. One little girl said, "This is a great day. Now I know that I can do anything because Senator Obama is just like us."

For the first time since I heard he had been elected, I was moved by the enormity of what had happened with the victory Barak Obama claimed last night. I had been thinking in terms of Republicans and Democrats. This was so much more than that. For millions of African Americans this election was the fulfillment of a dream set in motion over forty five years ago. The fact that Barak Obama, a black man, could be elected to the highest office in the land signified that the long national struggle was over. The dream had become a reality that all of us can claim.

We understand this as people of faith. For you see Jesus did the same thing for us on an eternal scale. God took on flesh and became one of us. In doing so, he gave us hope that we might be saved. You see we thought God didn't understand our plight. In Christ we saw that He did because now he was one of us.

Praise God for loving us enough to become one of us.

Now let us all pray for God's guiding hand to touch our President elect as he seeks to inspire a nation. May he hear the voice of God in his ear and serve the Lord in the nations' highest office.

Cal

Monday, November 3, 2008

Nichole Nordman songs remind us of God's presence

When I was on my sabbatical in the summer of 2005 I attended the Worship and Arts Conference at Willow Creek Community Church. One of the performers at that conference was Nichole Nordman. She came on stage and shared her songs and a bit of her life and it was a magical moment. I bought a CD of her music which include her hit single "Brave" which I have played over a hundred times. Today I came across this video of her song I am. It's great. Enjoy and know that God is always with you.

Cal



Here is "Brave."

Could you pass the test?

Quincy stopped by to visit today and he was very excited. He wanted me to know he had a date for his citizenship test. We chatted and he shared a few examples of the questions he expected to find on the test.

My secretary and I laughed as we tried to answer them. I have to brag and tell you that I knew every answer. But I am sure there are a lot of people who would not do as well. I think that is why the television show, "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" is so fun to watch. We learn so many things when we are in school but we tend to forget most of it. Unless we are actively engaged in some area where we are using it every day, we lose it,

Quincy, though, was so proud. He wants to become an American citizen very badly. He was born in China and he and his family have been here for several years. He loves this country and is wiling to prove it. He said he has been studying for the last two years. How many of the rest of us would work that hard if we had to take a test to retain our citizenship in this great country? We take it for granted.

I think the same thing is true for our faith. Many of us can remember when we first became Christians. The Bible was exciting to us. We loved going to church and learning new things from the messages given by the priest or minister. We may have even gotten involved in a Sunday School class or Bible Study. But before long many of us began taking what we knew for granted.

I ran into a friend of mine who is Roman Catholic this morning. He showed me the book he was reading. It laid out the basic beliefs of his church. He told me that he wanted to know what Catholics believed. He said he hadn 't studied it since he went through catechism as a child. He said he wanted to know what he believed and why. This book tied the doctrines to the Scriptures and he said he loved it.

The truth is that many of us don't really know what we believe. We could never take a test on the basics of our Biblical faith. We don't even really know what the Bible says. What we think we know comes from the secular media which tells us what Christians believe and from popular television and movies which portray religious people certain ways. For example, which of these sayings comes from the Bible:

a) God helps those who help themselves...
b) God loves a cheerful giver...
c) Blessed are the weak for they shall be made strong...

Talking to Quincy this morning reminded me that if we really believe that our faith will save us and that the Bible is God's Word, then we should take the time to study it and learn what it has to say. Thankfully, for now, Jesus has already taken the test and we can claim his grade. But it would still be nice to know the answers so we can be blessed by His word.

Cal

Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Bank Account of Life

I received this "goodie" from a friend and thought I would pass it on as something to meditate on as we begin a new week.

The Bank Account of Life

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coiffed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied.

"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing."

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:


1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.


Peace! Cal