54 Years of Changes - 1955 to 2009

The Sprayberry Academy of Radio, 111 North Canal Street, Chicago. Illinois is now the Coolsavings.com, Family Feature Films Inc, and the Zion’z First National Bank.

The Cortina Academy(originators of Phonograph Method) of 136 52nd Street, New York 19, NY is now the very tall Sheraton Hotel on 52nd Street and 7th Avenue.

The Volume Sales Co. that sold Giant Balloons – from their War Assets Division is now the Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea company, or the Café Stella on Sunset Blvd, in Los Angeles, Ca.

The Tri State College in Angola, Indiana is now the Tri State University and still is at the same address – 415 College Ave., Angola, Indiana.

The Charles Atlas Company at 115 23rd St., New York, NY is now the ROC Corporation and the CITI Bank building.

Sheesh – the whole world has changed! It was 1955 and the promises the magazine made were amazing.

The Sprayberry Academy of Radio offered New Equipment! New Lessons! Enlarged Course! I could practice and train at home with 25 new kits of equipment – where I could build a powerful 2 band superhet radio, the all new 18 range Sprayberry multitester, the new Sprayberry Training Television receiver, signal tracer, and many other projects.

In the spring of 1956 I was yet to see a Television – that would happen in fall of 1956.

The Cortina Academy promised me that I could learn French or Spanish – almost overnight!

The Volume Sales Co. of Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca. offered me Giant Balloons neoprene weather and target balloons that were great fun in the back yard, at parties, picnics, dances, fairs… and terrific for High School and College Proms!

The Tri State College of Angola, Indiana offered a Bachelor of Science Degree in 27 months in Mechanical Engineering, Civil, Chemical, Aeronautical, Radio (Television) AND BEST OF ALL… there were MORE JOBS THAN GRADUATES!!!!

And the best yet… Charles Atlas… the strongest man in the world was offering me a Body of a “He-Man”, The question asked of me in the ad was, “Are you Skinny, Weak, and run down? Tired, Nervous, Lacking Confidence? Constipated? Suffering from bad breath? Fat and Flabby? What to do about it is told in my book.”

Charles then asked me… “What’s my secret” Answer, “Dynamic Tension”! That’s the ticket! The natural method that I myself developed to change my scrawny skinny chested weakling I was at 17 to my present superman physique!...”

But he wasn’t Charles Atlas at all he was Angelo Siciliano born in Acri, Italy…From Wikipedia…
“Charles Atlas, born Angelo Siciliano (October 30, 1893, Acri, Italy – December 23, 1972, Long Beach, New York) was the developer of a bodybuilding method and its associated exercise program, most well-known for a landmark advertising campaign featuring his name and likeness, which has been described as one of the most lasting and memorable ad campaigns of all time.

According to Atlas, he trained himself to develop his body from that of a "scrawny weakling", eventually becoming the most popular muscleman of his day. He took the name "Charles Atlas" after a friend told him he resembled the statue of Atlas on top of a hotel in Coney Island, and legally changed his name in 1922. His company, Charles Atlas Ltd., was founded in 1929 and, as of 2009, continues marketing a fitness program for the "97-pound weakling." The company is now owned by Jeffrey C. Hogue.”

Back in the spring of 1956, on my grandparents farm, in the west end of the house, curled up on the old couch, with the wind and rain beating against the old window I savoured far away places and things that amazed me.

I was an 11 year old weakling that had a scrawny body, and active mind and a lifetime ahead of me. The places and addresses in front of me were impossible to know – except they were far, far away in a magical place that a boy could only dream about.

As I poured over the pages and dreamed of speaking French or Spanish – almost overnight… dreamed of being a radio and even television(whatever that was..) technician and getting something as silly as a weather balloon in the mail from somewhere far way… the rain beat on the windows and the strong west wind howled against the frame of the old farm house – trying to get at me.

The old couch was warm and the old Popular Mechanics Magazine had a certain new smell about it, a certain weight that was strong with pages and pages of ads that were promising me the world.

BUT do you know how all of these places were from the farm west of Truax, Saskatchewan was from all these places? About a million miles was an easy answer… but with the magic of an imagination I was there… savouring all of it.

It was 12 years later that I would get to see New York City. It was 2 years later that I saw Chicago. It was 25 years later that I walked on a part of Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. And I have not been to Angola, Indiana yet.

You have to ask – “How did you remember all of that?”

Well - Yesterday I pulled out that exact same Popular Mechanics Magazine from January 1955. The new smell is gone now replaced by a mildew scent … the weight is the same… the cover is gone… but the advertisements are the same…

Today with the help of Google Earth I zoomed into all the addresses of the old ads. I went to each place in a second or so… zooming around the world – across the USA to the mysterious places of 1955… and the new scenes of 2009 that appeared on my monitor.

What a rush to be a boy again. What a rush to go back to the old west room in the old farm house to savour the warmth of the couch and see the magazine again.

I had intended to throw out these old magazines – with the Blue Box stuff on Tuesday… BUT I can’t do it. It would be like throwing out all my treasured memories. Maybe the kids can put them in my casket or somewhere when I finish the final race. I will find a place for them – just as I have for over 25 years now…

For your own pleasure I offer these priceless ads again today - below. They likely mean nothing to you… sorry…

But for me – they offer a time and place that is impossible to return to – except in my imagination and memories… The house is gone… the wind and the rain is still there beating on the gold coloured prairie grass down the hill from where the house used to be…

I have to run… more memories are flooding back… this is one fantastic rush today – back to 1955 and beyond… whoa!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Atlas

Thomas Robert Malthus’ theory and Me

When I spoke with Mitch McLeod a while back he attempted to share with me the studies he was involved with in University. Something to do with food grains, Canola, faster growing seeds and design of food stuff that will grow better in places on Earth where it is harder to grow things now… making it possible to live better.

Did you get that? If Mitch reads this – I hope I am not too far off track from what you told me… sorry.

Recently I heard that Mitch has just been accepted to McMaster University’s Doctorate Program in the same studies. Mitch will help feed millions more in this old Earth with the design and engineering of better food stuff. Canola Seeds are likely only the start – or may not even be on the list anymore…

(As a side line to this short article… Mitch was one of the first kids accepted into the Northview Dayschool at the Northview Pentecostal Church – and now he is entering his Doctoral Graduate Studies at a major University. WOW! Mom and Dad, Norma and Martin – have to be a wee bit proud of what is happening now.)

I connect Mitch to what I write about today… Food… and the Global Crisis that we are now facing.

The National Geographic Magazine featured a powerful and thought provoking story about food and the soon to be possible shortage for more and more people. I read it in their magazine – you can read with the link that is shown below.

I was interested in one of the men mentioned in the article – Thomas Robert Malthus – fellow man of “the clothe” – a clergyman that lived between Feb 13, 1766 and December 23, 1834. Along with preaching in the Anglican Church he was known for some controversial ideas of his day and age. People condemned him for his ideas on demography, economics and other ideas on population growth outstripping the food supply. Perhaps he was 200 years ahead of his time. People in the age that he lived through put him down and stated simply that his ideas were crazy – after all – look at what we have and the way that we are developing with a our food production.

Well… it appears that Mr. Malthus was not all that crazy to think these wild thoughts. The population growth in our world will soon (and already has) out grow the production of food supply – specially the grains supply of the world. There will not be enough grains to supply the demand.

The recent problem with “no rice” – or “not enough rice” made the prices sore… but the supply was not there to provide the staple that most of the world depends on. Asia felt it – the Western world heard about it.

But to understand it better – think about Canada… take away all the wheat and potatoes – let it be like there is none to be had. Every single grain and every single potato has been eaten… there is none left. That would be the equivalent to what has happened and may happen again with rice.

Now some will say – I would eat more meat – Beef, Pork, Chicken… Well if there is not enough grain there will not be any Beef, Pork or Chicken because they must have grain to eat and grow.

What happens when there is not enough? What happens when Thomas Robert Malthus’ theory is correct? What happens when there is not enough?

Mitch McLeod is certainly making a powerful choice of studies that will make a difference to millions – I am sure!

In a YouTube video you will see Zimbabwean people buying their bread and other goods for Gold they have collected or found. The money is no longer of any value… gold is all that matters. And Gold for bread is a real.

I can remember a way back an old preacher of long ago being lathered up with his preaching about the dire days to come – the last days – when things will be come very expensive and – one of them being Bread costing the price of Gold.

This story of Rev. Malthus definitely stirred some thinking in me.

The NGO story about the amount of pigs that will be needed in China to feed the people is amazing. In one factory it slaughters 5000 a day. I believe that their estimates are with the Population of China soon reaching 1.5 Billion – a daily need for 200,000,000 hogs per day. Now consider that they do not have enough grains now to feed the Hogs that they use now… what will happen when the population reaches the new estimated high?

And in the West – our meat consumption is higher than that of China… and it requires more of the grain to feed a cow than a pig.

Our massive Population Base will soon outstrip the supply… the “Malthusian Catastrophes” that was predicted and warned about by an oddly strange clergy man that lived 200 years before his time.

Now go have a good day. First eat a hardy breakfast – maybe with oatmeal… or some other grain based cereal. Then pop some toast in and butter it. You have now sued more grain stuff than many others have in this world now.

If you took away all the grain based food stuff that you will eat today… what would be left?

Oh boy… And I am hungry again…

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Source:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/cheap-food/bourne-text

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Robert_Malthus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthusian_catastrophe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ubJp6rmUYM

It is really too funny “Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people”

The mail was entitled Five (5) Lessons about the way we treat people. It was forwarded from someone else to me and about a dozen others.

I am including two of the Lessons below…

The Story of the cleaning lady is a good one… The students never knew the ladies name. It was a great story that perhaps happened sometime a long time ago… and has been told many times over and over again. But it 2009 – try prying into some one’s life and pressing them to get their name… the results will be “Are you a cop?” – or – “Why do you want to know?” – or – maybe they will move quickly away.

It might work in Yorkton, Saskatchewan… but it could get you shot in Toronto trying that out – or be accused of being a stalker.

The next story is about an African American Lady is standing by the road with a flat tire and it is raining…. Well….

Take a moment to read the following and then take a look at the real story…

Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people
1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
During my second month of college, our professor Gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious studentAnd had breezed through the questions until I read The last one:"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the Cleaning woman several times. She was tall,Dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?I handed in my paper, leaving the last question Blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if The last question would count toward our quiz grade."Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers,You will meet many people. All are significant. TheyDeserve your attention and care, even if all you do Is smile and say "hello."I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her Name was Dorothy..

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African AmericanWoman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car hadBroken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generallyUnheard of in those conflict-filled 19 60's. The man Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and Put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A Special note was attached. It read:"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway The other night. The rain drenched not only my Clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying Husband's' bedside just before he passed away... GodBless you for helping me and unselfishly servingOthers."Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole..

This is an urban legend that has been around for quite a while, and is not true. Nat King Cole was a successful singer who died in 1965. He was Natalie Cole's father.Roy Holmes, who hosts a Nat King Cole Website (www.highstreets.co.uk/kcc/index.htm) has spoken with Maria Cole, Nat King Cole's widow, about the story. She told him that she did not drive to the hospital where Nat died, she doesn't drive at night, and has never had the occasion of being helped by a man when a car broke down.One note is that this story also places Mrs. Cole in Alabama, but Nat died at St. John's hospital in Santa Monica, California, and his death was not a sudden one that would have caught her by surprise in some other part of the country. He succumbed to cancer and, according to newspaper accounts, she was at his bedside almost continuously until he died.There are real stories of celebrities doing nice things for people they didn't know (Elvis was famous for that), but there are also numerous urban legends about encounters between celebrities and strangers and some of the generous gifts that have resulted.
See - http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/m/mrs.nat.king.cole.htm

Okay… can I believe what is sent via email?

Consider the Jesus and the Folded Napkin… take a look at
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/f/folded-napkin.htm

In fact as you may like to look over the zillions of posts – when you have little of nothing to do… take a look at http://www.truthorfiction.com/ and perhaps Book Mark it…

As you scroll down the first page you will see a list of 20 of the present emails that are circulating… like…

Mars is closest to the earth this July and August – appears as big as the moon –etc
See - http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/m/mars.htm

Help find Ashley Flores
See http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/ashleyflores.htm

The ACLU has filed a suit to have all military cross shaped headstones removed
See http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/aclu-markers.htm

Dare I point to this one… carefully… yes…but I received one about…
The word "Shit" Meant "Ship High In Transit"
See http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/s/shit.htm

Warning however… there is a whole lot of time that can be wasted just looking through the Truthorfiction site.

It reminds me of a discussion about some of the Biblical Stories that was taking place with some of my friends. One man said, “That reminds me of Hezekiah 3:16 says about God. God is able to do anything – making people do the strangest things that they would never do without God’s intervention.”

All listening… agreed. DUMB! Check it out for yourself… to see what God really said… it is great!

I receive buckets of stuff from so many friends. I love it really… and find it too funny in that they have spent so much time – first reading it and then second – considering who they should send it on to. Many just mass dump it to all their friends – in which case I have found long lost friends from their email address lists of forwarding….

Kind of fun really….

I can believe this…
* It is morning… time to get up…
* I am hungry.
* There are tasks to get done today – if I don’t do them – no one else will.
* I am hungry again – it happens at least three times a day.
* I need to do some work to make some money to buy some food and pay some bills.
* No one else will give me their money because I am hungry.
* I am sleepy – I need to go to bed.
* It is night time – I should go to bed.

* But I need to check my email for another forward – just in case….

It is really too funny…

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Michael Jackson After Death Experience

* * * WARNING * * *
If you have a headache or are already depressed – DO NOT READ THIS!
* * *
I have been following the Michael Jackson after death experience that the whole world will be caught into shortly.

This could be a “Thriller” to say the least.

Now it is not that we can follow Michael Jackson into his after life… it is what is going to happen now that he is dead. What will take place of all his assets? What is happening to his children? What about the Neverland property – shrine or no shrine – i.e. another Graceland?

But he is not even buried yet… and because he was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness… and they do not do funerals the way other people do them…
Quote…
“Jackson was raised a Jehovah's Witness, who are forbidden from following funeral customs that are not mentioned in the Bible.”
End quote

And it appears that MJ wasn’t one of the 144,000… but that is another story… so will they commit his soul to wonder throughout the universe that endless night stuff…?(Sorry that is a whole other Blog needed to explain what happens to not so good JWs when they die. See at the end of this posting..)

So celebrity funerals are not allowed by JWs unless of course that Michael Jackson was a king… but I don’t think so…

And who will be the minister that they choose? What will he say? Will it be televised?

The developing story has all the possibility of the greatest one yet.

His care for his possible but not expected death… was almost as complicated and changing from what they have found out so far.

So far there are his parents/mother and two lawyers squaring up.

His mother Katherine of course will be involved looking after the needs of his kids. She is 79 years old – but has a lawyer as well. His dad Joe is advising through the same lawyer. In the event that MJ’s mother is not able to look after his kids, MJ’s long time friend Diana Ross – who is 65 years old now (17 days older than me).

Now I am not sure about Diana – but I think at 65 years of age she is not likely to be able to deal with MJ’s kiddies moving in with her – let alone look after the nightmare of looking after their welfare now that their famous daddy is dead.

MJ is worth millions some think. I mean all famous people that live lavish lives must be worth millions – right?

In MJ’s case there is a problem that came about just before he died. It is a very big and very expensive problem for the folk dealing with this whole issue.

The problem is a $85 Million problem. Jeryll S. Cohen is quoted as saying…
Jeryll S. Cohen, an attorney for the named executors, said it was "essential" that Branca and McClain get control so they could begin negotiations with AEG Live, the promoter of the 50 London concerts Jackson was rehearsing for at the time of his death."There are $85 million of tickets out there," Cohen said. She said discussions "need to be entered into immediately with AEG to mitigate the loss from the decedent's death and nonperformance."

It was something like the family finding out that the loved one that just passed away had gone a very big shopping trip and mortgaged the farm before dieing.

Some one will have to pay… big time

Now add to that Lawyer’s Fees… sorry kids you may have to live with Auntie Diana Ross.

So What?...
How does that affect any of us? We certainly are not famous.

Well it does have an example for many of us. We are the same in many ways.

The first thing is – not one of us knows when we will die. It could happen in the next five minutes after reading this Blog. The ticker could stop – just like… THAT! A blood vessel could pop in your brain – just like… THAT! (sorry – but go back to that WARNING at the beginning…)

The second thing is that… many people I have met and know very well – did not have and do not have a clear Will to help their family decided what to do. It didn’t seem important enough to take the time because they were not expecting to die… so soon… or at that time.

Or worse yet… they refused to get the Will thing done in that by avoiding it they didn’t have to think about what was coming. It was easier to let someone else work it out.

No doubt that MJ’s life was more complicated than yours or mine is… but why would any of us leave the ones that we love to have to deal with these issues after we die. I mean our death though not expected right away – will catch every one by surprise – including us.

Why not be ready?

Like… I am really trying to clean up my garage and get the messes cleaned up and ready…. Alida doesn’t need the mess that is there now to deal with then… nor do my kids. Maybe I can make sure that they are not going to need two big orange dumpsters – one will do.

I am sorry…
Sorry if this gives you a worse headache today than the one that you woke up with. I apologize if it makes you more depressed than you were from yesterday.

BUT… MAYBE… if we looked after some of this stuff before we get close to the last heart beat – we would not be feeling so rotten now when we have to try to think about it. Does that make sense to you?

I know there will be a “Murray Lincoln After Life Experience” in days to come. I hope that it is better for my family than MJ’s.

Gotta run… more garage to clean… more stuff to sort out… and a few more trips to Value Village…. Not to buy – but to give away.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-me-jackson-legal2-2009jul02,0,4462288.story

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1195800/Will-Michael-Jacksons-funeral-biggest-Princess-Dianas.html

http://www.geocities.com/michaelrroth/JehovahsWitness.html

About JWs… too bad Michael… oops…
They endeavor to remain separate from secular society, which is regarded as a place of moral contamination and under the control of Satan the Devil, refusing any political and military activity and limiting social contact with non-Witnesses. Members practice a strict moral code, forbidding adultery, premarital sex and homosexuality. Drug abuse, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol are prohibited, as are blood transfusions. Discipline within congregations is maintained by a system of judicial committees, which have the power to expel members who breach organizational rules and demand their shunning by other Witnesses. The threat of shunning also serves to deter other members from dissident behavior.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beliefs_and_practices_of_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses

DO YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT – OR HAPPY?

The front is good. We grin when some one says something to us… but inside it hurts. We say, “Fine”, when we would really like to say, “ I am dieing one piece at a time, Thanks for asking.”

The neighbours know nothing of what we face each day… or how our plans have fallen apart because our health has also.

Do you lie down and quit? Do you simply give up?

Nope. According to an old book(Published in 1994) that I picked up lately it some better words to help us. The sub title is “Using Humor to Flatten Out Your Pain”. The full title doesn’t really make sense but here it is, “Mama, get the hammer! There’s a Fly on Papa’s Head”. Funny huh? Barb Johnston is something else.

In this particular book she has shared a number of stories about folk that were suffering more than anyone. There stories were even hard to handle as I skipped over them. But undoubtedly they have been helped by the humor that they found in Barb’s writing.

In the book I found the following sayings that I offer today – my “running day” – with little time to peck out a full story. Maybe you need to read these and make a copy of your own.

Whatever the case may be – smile… then chuckle and possibly break into a belly laugh and might even hurt.

IF THERE WERE NO GRIEF TO HOLLOW OUR HEARTS
THERE WOULD BE NO ROOM FOR JOY
* * * * *

EXPERIENCE IS WHAT YOU GET
WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE
* * * * *

ITS NOT SO MUCH WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU
IT’S HOW YOU HANDLE THE HAPPENINGS
* * * * *

IF IT DOESN’T KILL YOU
IT WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER
* * * * *

DO YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT – OR HAPPY?
* * * * *

THE BEST EXERCISE FOR GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
IS BENDING OVER BACKWARD
* * * * *

LORD WHEN I AM WRONG, MAKE ME WILLING TO CHANGE;
WHEN I AM RIGHT, MAKE ME EASY TO LIVE WITH
* * * * *

HOPE IS OXYGEN FOR YOUR SOUL
* * * * *

WE’VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TOGETHER,
AND MOST OF IT WAS YORU FAULT
* * * * *

THE SOFTER WE MAKE IT FOR OUR KIDS
THE HARDER THE LIFE THEY LIVE WILL BE
* * * * *

PAIN PLANTS THE FLAG OF REALITY
IN THE FORTRESS OF A REBEL HEART
* * * * *

WE ARE ONLY AS SICK AS OUR SECRETS
* * * * *

LOVE IS WARM ARMS
INSTEAD OF COLD SHOULDERS
* * * * *

IF A LION’S ROAR ISN’T GETTING YOU ANYPLACE,
TRY A BEAR HUG
* * * * *

FRIENDS MAY COME AND FRIENDS MAY GO
BUT ENEMIES ACCUMULATE
* * * * *

TRY A QUICK HUG TO
COOL A SLOW BURN
* * * * *

GRUDGES ARE LIKE HAND GERNADES:
IT’S WISE TO RELEASE THEM BEFORE THEY DESTROY YOU
* * * * *

SOME FOLKS CAUSE HAPPINESS WHEREVER THEY GO
OTHERS WHENEVER THEY GO
* * * * *

GOD BLESS YOU… AS MY WELL GETS DEEPER
AND DARKER, YOU ARE MY LIGHT
* * * * *

SYMPATHY IS YOUR PAIN IN MY HEART

OH yes – and Happy Canada Day!

One small letter can make a huge difference when shared from your heart!

Joy Johnston, a friend of mine, penned this email that arrived today…

Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, September 2008. A pastor shared with me that he didn't understand why God had caused him to be born Congolese: "To be Congolese is to be born under a curse. This nation is nothing but destruction and corruption, poverty and death." But he held in his hand a stunning blue sapphire. He explained that in his home area, precious gems could be found just 6 feet underground. Hidden treasures! This one had been unearthed by his young daughter. He would sell it to provide food for his family and the orphans they care for.

I tried to encourage him that God has a hope and a future for his nation. I suggested that Congo, with it's tremendous people resources and rich natural resources, might also be a hidden treasure. That if some day “unearthed” and settled in God's hands, Congo could find itself not only blessed, but a source of great blessing to others. He so much wanted to hope!

I look forward to returning to Katanga in August, and again investing in the lives and ministries of some of Congo’s hidden treasures. These Christian leaders are working to bring a hope and a future to their nation – a hope and a future that will come only through Jesus’ power to transform and restore. Pray for Congo! Pray for me as I go!

Joy
P.S. Pray also for the August/September ministry in South Sudan and Uganda. These nations have their own "hidden treasures"!

* * * * * * * * *
Joy is an old friend of mine that is very young and vibrant in her ministry. We first met in Hong Kong a long, long time ago.

When my family and I lived in Hong Kong and worked with the Youth throughout the colony(at that time still under Britain’s guidance) – I met Joy.

Joy came as part of a team of young adults from Canada to assist us in any way possible to make our work easier and more profitable with the local folks we worked with.

Having the great group of young adults come to fit in wherever was a wonderful break from the daily grind of wondering if anything was happening. They were a pleasant diversion from the stuff of ordinary.

However some were a kind of special “royal pain” in that they could never really acclimatize to the new culture. Others fit in as if they were made for what was happening to them.

Joy was part of the second group – an easy fit and loved her stay.

When the team of young adults were leaving Hong Kong I hated to let them go home. It was always the same – every time a group left. They had become “my kids” and I loved them – but hated to let them go.

At times when a team came I was deeply stirred by what I had witnessed as they had worked with the folks in our community. More than anything I witnessed the potential that each one had within them. It was pure magic to see the ability of each as they reached out. Yet they were returning to Canada and a life of their ordinary – where they would fall back into the routine of their old lives.

You just never knew what was happening away back there in Canada. There as no email, no internet with FaceBook – only letters that took almost two weeks to get to some one back in Canada – and then if they decided to write back or remembered to write back – you might have kept in touch with them for at least a year.

Joy was among a group that was very busy with life.

I took a cue and wrote a letter to each team member before they left Hong Kong. With a thank you and some simple words that came from my heart I sealed the envelope and gave it to the young adults as they left us to return to Canada.

Generally my words included a thought for each one… and with it a prayer for them as they returned home. With it I guess I simply wanted them to not forget us.

Life whizzed by until 2008… about 25 years later… when I received an email from Joy Johnston, one of the young adults of so long ago. She is now a world traveller and speaker that travels to many countries around the globe. I know that she has gone to places I only dreamed of getting to in my life time. I could never make it to all those places – so Joy has taken up the challenge for me!

In our recent communication Joy shared with me about a letter that I had written to her after her trip and work with us in Hong Kong… and what it meant to her at that time.

I am amazed that she still had the copy of that old piece of paper… of over 26 years ago – or so.

The power of the idea of simply dropping someone a note, sharing your ideas in a letter… of opening your heart … is powerful.

The potential of one young adult like Joy is staggering in my mind. And you better believe it… I AM VERY PROUD OF JOY JOHNSTON!!!!

I love her emails and communications back to us now. She has me on her growing email list and contact list – and keeps me alongside of her work regularly.

BTW if you would like to get to know Joy Johnston you can email her at joy.johnst@gmail.com

If you write to her – tell her an old guy that she knew a long time ago bragged about her work. She would love to hear from you with a short note from you…..

One small letter can make a huge difference when shared from your heart!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

"I’m not me minus anything; I’m me plus this experience"

Michael J. Fox’s words read…
“There are things that I can’t do to the extent that I used to do or, in some cases, at all. But there are more things that I do that I didn’t do before. We sometimes see subtractions when we are ill. They are not just subtractions. I’m not me minus anything; I’m me plus this experience. Whether it’s good or bad is a subjective thing, but this has assuredly changed my path…”

Certainly words to ponder in most of our cases.

As many know Michael J. Fox became aware of his Parkinson’s Disease when he was 40 years of age. He continued to work in TV and Movies as he had done for years – without telling anyone. For seven years he guarded his secret. Then realizing that he had maybe five years of public work left he let outsiders know his secret.

I have been reflecting on his statement above over these past weeks. The thoughts have been many.

Today is the start of the second year of my Non- Pastoral Life.

Yesterday was the anniversary of one year since that “Last Lasagna Dinner” (I hesitate to say the ‘Last Supper’ but it felt like it)…

It was the day that I tried my best to smile for cameras and act like I was headed out on a fine new adventure… a really long holiday. I had spoken in the morning and then “celebrated” my being laid off and start of my unemployment adventure for the next months to come.

Wow – what a year it has been!

During the year I can say that it has been an adventure to say the least.

During one the special classes that I attended to help with the new role that I was entering, the instructor had asked us to write down three things on a file card that would indicate “My Goals for the next three months” – or “…in three months”. She gave us an envelope with a stamp on it. We were asked to place these Goals in the envelope, seal it and address it to ourselves. She collected them and kept them for three months.

When the start of the fourth month arrived I collected our mail and there was letter addressed to me – from me – in my handwriting.

I had forgotten about the class exercise of three months ago as I opened the letter to me from me.

There on the file card I read the following…
1. Complete the ground work for building my Personal Business.
2. Secure and stabilize a steady source of income.
3. Maintain a balance of Life I have achieved by now being unemployed.

This moment of re-reading the file card was about 5 months from the “Last Lasagna Dinner”. I was already heading into my Self Employed Benefits program and the possibilities of a future were within my grasp.

The three goals that I had listed were mine… or well on the way to being complete.

It has been an amazing year – with many ups and some downs.

I/We have been supported by some amazing people that stood with us in so many ways. At just the right time they called, emailed, FaceBook-ed a comment and some even dropped in.

There were downers too… a friend walked out on a commitment that kind of crushed hope for a week or so… then a brand new door opened that was ten times better than the original plan. For that I am so thankful – a huge stress that was unnatural and not needed in any way was lifted. WOW! At the time I felt super down and terribly hurt – but within weeks and specially now – I see the wonderful wisdom of God in my diversion from that situation.

I can say with great confidence… “There are things that I can’t do to the extent that I used to do of, in some cases, at all. But there are more things that I do that I didn’t do before. We sometimes see subtractions when we are ill. They are not just subtractions. I’m not me minus anything…” (Thanks Michael J. Fox).

I have tried to separate my new “Misty Hollow Carving” (see www.murraylincoln.com ) from another growing ministry as the two seem to conflict in some folks eyes. Well I cannot do that any longer.

The growing ministry is “Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy” which puts me in contact with an amazing group of people that serve our province – our MPPs… Members of Provincial Parliament that serve in Ontario’s Queen’s Park in Toronto. I serve in a unique role of Chaplain to some amazing people. I connect with them and also with the supporting churches across Ontario.

I cannot write about all that I know. I do not speak about it either. I just know that an amazing group of people are being touched deeply by what God is doing in some very important places in our government of Ontario.

Further to this growing ministry of the Ontario Provincial Chaplaincy another door started to open in amazing way as well.

That new role is the one of a leading the “Mental Health Working Group for Ontario”. In this role I am entering perhaps one of the most important ones that I have ever done to date… that of carefully looking at, deeply caring for, and endeavouring to come up with some solid information about how the Correctional Services Canada is dealing with the Mental Health needs of men and women coming from the Federal Prison system. We are looking at what happens in Prison as well as what happens in the Community when folks are released to live on their own.

Just after the “Last Lasagna Dinner” I had been pretty sure that it was as good as over… life that I had known was never going to be there again. I was walking out of 35 years of wonderful experiences and great challenges mixed with heart aches of all kinds. It was called “Ministry” and it was over.

Little did I realize that it was just about to start – not end.

Today is a Brand New Day – the BND of Murray Lincoln’s life.

With Michael J. Fox’s help I finish this short Blog today…
“…I’m not me minus anything; I’m me plus this experience. Whether it’s good or bad is a subjective thing, but this has assuredly changed my path…”

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com