Understanding this poor guy...

Misty Hollow Carving
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Blog Post for today…

Understanding this poor guy...
So what’s with the Superman Photo/Costume – you crazy old fool!!? Let me explain…

A few weeks ago now our Ontario Government passed a new law that disallows anyone driving from using their “hand held anything”. It is for our own good I am sure. Many are distracted with what they are doing other than driving.

In an earlier post I mentioned some idiot friends of mine that regularly “Text” on their phones while driving full speed down the road. The part that drove me nuts was that I was in the vehicle with them – not driving!

Well lots has changed now since the new law. To our cell phone we have added a Blue Tooth ear piece so that if and when the phone rings I simply have to reach up and push the button on it – in the middle of my ear. To a cop it kind of looks like I am scratching my ear… but it is really me picking up the phone.

Now the fact that it nearly scares the beejeebbies out of me when the phone rings – RIGHT IN MY EAR – is another safety factor that the law didn’t count on.

To add to the humor of it all… only my daughters have my cell number(other than my wife) – and when she is with me – no one calls. To test it out I call my daughters, who are at work, and answer with, “What can I do for you Dad?” “Oh nothing I just needed to talk to someone as I was driving” is my reply.

Oops I forgot to tell you that the Blue Tooth thingie not only answers my cell phone call coming in, but it also calls out as well. When I need to I touch the button in the middle of my ear… the wee machine then gives a little bing bong… and the nice little lady inside that wee machine asks me if who I would like to call. I simply say, “Call Dana”, to which she asks, “Did you say, ‘Call Dana’, to which I reply, “Yes.” The wee little lady inside my ear canal then does her magic… the small tones then can be heard connecting me with my daughter.

I am not really sure if that wee lady is in the Blue Tooth… or in the Cell Phone in my pocket?!?!

Now some of you that are as old as and older than me can remember that busy-body woman in the rural town that was known as “Central”… and when you cranked the old phone box it woke her up to then connect you with the outside world. The one in my ear now does the same – only she is not big and fat like the other “Central” was… she can’t be… she is only ½ x ½ in size and that includes her casing!!! And if she is in my pocket I feel sorry for her!

Further….
“Aunt Bobbie” sent us an email yesterday with the following story in it. It totally sets up the rest of what I need to say about my new world… of gadgetry… small machines and my reactions.

I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating" You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop.

I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual.." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.”

What more can I say!?! I am now Superman! I have bifocals for my X-ray Vision, a super sensitive ear piece to let me hear anything – anywhere at anytime… so YES… the Photo is true!

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

The Mystery of the Golden Calf

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Blog Post for today…

The Mystery of the Golden Calf
The Mystery of the Golden Calf has bothered me for a long time. For me as a Canadian that was born and raised in the western part of Canada and connected to all things rural – Cows and Bulls were part of my life. They were not something that a person “worshiped”.

Yet in the midst of the initial days of the escape from Israel the People of God stop for 40 days and 40 nights at the base of a mountain and then build a bovine made of gold… to worship. They do this because their leader has left them unattended for too long.

One of these kinds of mysteries will pop up in your life time every once in a while. This is a fascinating one that surfaced again when the latest National Geographic Magazine arrived.

The Nat Geo article explains at length the finding of the hundreds of thousands of Mummified Pets (animals) in Egypt. The Links below will provide the article for you to read on line.

One of the creatures that was revered was the Bull… an Apis Bull. The people lived near Memphis, Egypt which is now Mit Rahina…. South of the present day Cario.

From the Nat Geo article – Quote…
“And some animals were mummified because they were the living representatives of a god. The venerable city of Memphis, the capital for much of Egypt's ancient history, covered 20 square miles at its largest in about 300 B.C., with a population of some 250,000. Today most of its crumbled glory lies under the village of Mit Rahina and the surrounding fields. But along a dusty lane, the ruins of a temple stand half hidden amid tufts of grass. This was the embalming house of the Apis bull, one of the most revered animals in all of ancient Egypt.

A symbol of strength and virility, the Apis was closely linked to the all-powerful king. He was part animal, part god and was chosen for veneration because of his unusual set of markings: a white triangle on his forehead, white winged patterns on his shoulders and rump, a scarab silhouette on his tongue, and double hairs at the end of his tail. During his lifetime he was kept in a special sanctuary, pampered by priests, adorned with gold and jewels, and worshipped by the multitudes. When he died, his divine essence was believed to move on to another bull, and so a search for the new one began. Meanwhile, the body of the deceased was transported to the temple and laid on a bed of finely carved travertine. Mummification took at least 70 days—40 to dry the enormous repository of flesh, and 30 to wrap it.” end quote.

Isn’t that interesting? The people that Moses leads away from the slavery situation that they are in… do not easily give up what they knew best… worshipping a Bull.

There is much to think about here. It is possible then that a portion of the People Moses is leading were from the area of Memphis and knew much about the practice and processes used then. They knew about the Bull and worshiped this Bull.

However this was not God’s plan for them. He was not pleased and showed it.

I do not intend to conduct a lengthy Bible Study with these words. You can do that yourself with the Links below and use it around the Coffee Shop for your conversations.

I simply point to the way that these Chosen People carried over the habits into their next life – to their detriment. So much of what they had lived like was completely woven into the fabric of their lives. They could not stop being who they had become.

Who they had become was not necessarily who God had wanted them to be. They had lived in relative safety in Egypt for a long time. And in doing so they had not known any other way.

This is so much like we have become in the Church today. We have been so long in the culture of what we accepted as a Norm for Christians – that this is all that we can present to a world that is hurting and looking for an answer.

Yes I am still mulling over the message from “The Shack”. In the book it so strongly points to RELATIONSHIPS over INSTITUTIONS. At least that is what I caught. In building the Mega Million Dollar Debt – MMDD places to worship God – I seriously fear that we have lost who he is or what it is all about.

Willie’s story about Mack has deeply stirred me again(in “The Shack”). I have had these thoughts for a long time as I watched corrupted men lead. They bothered me. Now out of the Blue at the right time The Shack has opened a door to much more thought!

Thanks again Brenda! Whoah!

Taking a serious look at the Apis Bull… the Children of Israel did something really stupid… they carried a “whole lot of Bull” along with them!

The church today has carried “a whole lot of Bull” with it as well – into most of what it does. The Bull the church has isn’t the Apis Bull either… it is the power trip Bull, the MMDD Bull, the lack of relationships/look at the back of someone else’s head Bull and think that is Christian.

Not long ago a very mean man died. He thought of himself as a Christian. In fact he shoved and pushed his kind of “christianity” on other people(small c intended). I experienced the wrath that came with my not doing what he stated I should do. I suffered his “meanness” and had to live with it.

This man’s meanness was felt by many. I saw a young person vow that he would never attend church again – or subscribe to that kind of “christianity”. The man was so full of the Bull of Power and Control that it killed others.

It is so sad to see the total affects of all of this Bull. The children of this fellow do not attend church. Why would they?!?

I think God has a problem with THAT kind of BULL in Heaven. And if the person doesn’t get rid of it before they leave… well what are the alternatives…. ??????

Okay, Okay… I am ranting now. The book, “The Shack” and the stories of the Apis Bull, mummification of a Bull, and all the rest has started me thinking again….

Thanks Brenda… sheesh!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Source:
Crossing of the Red Sea
http://www.arkdiscovery.com/red_sea_crossing.htm
Nat Geo Article – Animals Everlasting
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/11/animal-mummies/williams-text
Golden Calf
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/246635/jewish/The-Golden-Calf.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_calf
The Apis Bull
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apis_%28Egyptian_mythology%29

Dealing with “The Shack” and its personal ramifications…

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

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Blog Post for today…

Dealing with “The Shack” and its personal ramifications…
The “Cagey Pastor” will not read this book! The “Powerful Bishop” would never admit it if he did. The manipulative leader would never recommend this one! This book has likely stirred up hornet’s nest in the religious world.

Brenda gave me a copy of this 250 page book entitled “The Shack” and questioned me what my opinion might be after I read it. She personally is re-reading it for the second time. Thanks again Brenda. Thanks for blowing my mind!

The nasty instruction at the back of the little book requests that the reader not give away the story line… or tell too much of the plot contained within. That is kind of like surprising me with a Birthday Cake, lighting the candles and then telling me that I can’t eat the cake… or blow out the candles. How mean can that be!

You cannot give a story teller a story and then not let the guy not talk about it.

I found the book masterful in the weaving of the complicated story parts together. It is however filled with enough theology that will sink the average pew sitter. I think they will fall asleep many times before they complete it – something like church. That part is funny for me.

The weaving of simple but fascinating dialogue between the key characters with the main dude – is nothing short of great. Who would have thought that a person could actually ask the questionsas he does and get the answers that he receives – from God?

Yep – the supporting actors in this book is/are God Himself – or Herself… which is why most Leaders in the Theological World would or may object – “You don’t talk to God or have God talk to you! You must listen to us tell you what GOD TOLD US and LET US INTERPRET IT FOR YOU!”

To actually have people think about God differently is amazing! But you have to read the book in order to know why I see it as amazing.

The great danger is that churches with really big debts now, and people not wanting to take on the church’s debt load, might suffer from people building personal relationships with God and not a building. And if these same people that SHOULD SUPPORT a CHURCH find out that there is more to life than the relationship of looking at some one else’s head accompanied with a grunt or a silly comment at the end of the church service… watch out because attendance could go down… along with offerings and all that terribly, needful stuff that makes the Church Factory keep going.

I strongly suspect that the changes happening in society as a whole have been matched by a book that tells the truth. And that is why it is so perfect now with thousands upon thousands reading and savoring it.

Recently I was sorting through my books with the thought of getting rid of them to unsuspecting pastors that are young and starting out brand new.

When I opened one box the brightly coloured book was glaring out its title for me to take a look inside. The Title was “How to Get Your Church to Give More!” No kidding! I remember reading that as our church started to dwindle in numbers and money from death and unhappy campers. Both were leaving and taking their tithes, offerings and $2.00 amounts with them(some considered all these to be the same…ha!)

I laughed to my self as I flipped through this book and its ideas again. I could not think of one minister that I could give it to. So I put it in the recycling bin… for the garbage. I sure bought some silly books with real money looking for a Fast Fix to growing problems.

I know of churches that have “mega million dollar debt” – “MMDD”. Having people question if they are able to worship God in the MMDD church or not… and maybe find that what takes place there each week is simply a distraction from God… could be dangerous.

Paul “Willie” Young asked me to think about things that are not easy to think about! He stated it in such away that I could not miss it. It took me longer to read this little book because of the things Willie made me think about.

The one big question is – “Is this story true?” I know what Paul states… but in my mind it is absolutely true – somewhere.

So if these words above get you thinking and maybe even wanting to read what is in the 250 pages… I feel good about that.

I would love to send a copy to the Pope… and to Bishop locally. I would love to know what the top dog in our own organization feels about what he reads there. And locally I would love to hear what the pastors of churches that should obey, are thinking about it. I wonder if there will be any book burning of this one in months to come?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Source:
http://theshackbook.com/
http://windrumors.com/

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/      
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Blog Post for today…
Dealing with On-Line Mourning and On-Line Death

I first experienced an “On-Line Death” in the fall of 1991. The impact was very strange for me. I had never felt the feelings I had with this particular death

To explain better I need to tell you the circumstances of what was taking place.

The Internet as we know it today in 2009 had not evolved to what it is now. There was no Google, no MSN, no Facebook, no actual on-line – immediate connection as we have now. Instead we had our computers dial into a HUB somewhere – hopefully locally and then the local connection provided some kind of world connection that was larger than the local. It was mainly used for getting needed files to make your computer work better.

I had lived in Scarborough just prior to this 1991 time in my life. In April 1991 we moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan about 1700 miles west and north of the last home.

I had been involved in an on-line Pastor’s Discussion Group that had to be dialed up, and then a Packet of Mail downloaded to your machine – along with my machine sending out a new packet or freshly written letters/files to the kind of ‘Post Office’ that in turn gave everyone the mail I sent.

Even describing this old fashioned, 18 year old method seems odd today!

One of the pastors on the group was older and had retired. His son was actively serving in a church. This older man always had such great information and ideas in any discussion the group was carrying on. Each time I saw his name and what he wrote I had great appreciation for his wisdom.

For about a year we grew to know each other better. Then his messages stopped being included in the mail packet that I downloaded each day.

It was about a week later that his son came back on-line again and explained that he had been away from posting because of the death of his dad and the week long funeral preparations that took place.

As I read his words I was stunned and almost without breath as I realized that a long distance friendship that I had grown to love and respect was suddenly gone. This friend had died without me knowing about it. It was very sudden and without warnings of any kind.

It was my first On-Line death and mourning. I mourned for someone that I had never met… knew only by his wisdom and wished I could have met him personally. I knew his mind and spirit but not his physical.

Today the Toronto Star reported by way of Denise Balkissoons article that Facebook has instituted new rules within this rapidly changing social networking group.

Denise states… quote…
“On Tuesday, Facebook announced that profiles of the deceased would remain online, with a few adjustments. Only people already on the dead person's friends list will be able to find them in name searches, and the profile will be locked to new comments. The decision came after a slew of users complained that Facebook's "suggestions" function – a list of people an algorithm thinks might be your friends – kept suggesting they connect with dead loved ones. Presumably, pages of people known to be deceased will now be kept out of the feed.” End quote…

The automated programming kept suggesting dead people might be my new friends. Yikes!

The whole new world of Social Networking through the computer and on-line means has changed my world. I am deeply affected by what is happening but at times without the ways and means to deal with it. I am not sure how to deal with death or approaching death of a friend by email… or FaceBook.

A few days ago one of my friends named Harold contacted me by Facebook. I am part of a large group that knows him well and that has supported him in whatever way we can as he has been struggling with Cancer for about 18 months now. Again I know him well because of his writing… and his ideas… his clarity of thought… his love.

His last message reads as follows… quote…
Subject: Thank you for your love and prayers

Because of my declining physical health I cannot keep up my contacts with email or FaceBook. It probably is not long until I see my Saviour face to face and I look forward to renewing our relationship, but most of all see our Saviour together.

Thank you for continuing to pray for me, Yvonne, and those the Lord gave us to enjoy all these years. He has also blessed us with so many wonderful relationships with His family.

I am not at all informed by the Lord when that date will be. Only He knows. Just know that you and all your wonderful kindness and love has meant so much to us and when the day comes someone will inform you. In the meantime keep on keeping on in your faithfulness to the One who never fails.

God bless you and keep you until that day dawns and the shadows all flee away!”

“Harold”
End quote…

As I have read these words over and over again it started to sink in.. my friend Harold will be gone soon. If something amazing doesn’t take place he will be gone before Christmas 2009.

I don’t know how to deal with this kind of thing. Even with all my years as a minister I am at loss as to how to deal with these On-Line Feelings. Any kind of email cannot be delivered to a friend that is going or now gone. And any contact with family is not always possible. It was Harold that I knew well… not always the family. Now he will not be able to write anymore.

The Future…
I have come to realize that my struggle may be because I have two feet in the old world where we dealt with this death idea in another way. But my grandkids and great grandkids will see it differently than I do… and will know only this one way.

There is a permanence with this Blog. My ideas and words will drift around the Internet forever. Some snippet of my thinking will always be there.

The original idea was to write words that would help my grandkids know me better – someday when they need to. However I realize that it may well be something unnerving for them as Grandpa Lincoln speaks to them over and over again after he is gone.

I need to say one big thing now… before I forget… Clifford, Emma, Jonathan, Thomas, Michael and Christopher – I love you six unbelievable kids! I only wish that I could have lived about 150 years to see all of you grow up and do the amazing things you will do. But that will not likely happen. For now… just know that I believe in all of you. You are amazing!!!

Someday when you read this – I will be gone. I hope you will understand that Grandpa sure knows what you are going through.

One more thing… when you can… go fishing for me. I love fishing. I loved taking you fishing too and will be there some how to see you catch one big for me.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com
Source:
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/718254--online-mourning-evolves

New From “Windows 7”

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

If you have followed the progress of my Web Site Yesterday Misty Hollow Carving’s Web Site hit a new all time record. It reached 12,358 hits in one month as of Yesterday! THAT IS 4215 more hits than in September!!! Woopieee! I have to stop holding my breath now!!!!

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

Thanks a million!
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Blog Post for today…
New From “Windows 7”
As I slipped into bed last night my wife looked at me and asked, “Why did we need that program? You said it was Windows 7 – when will they have Windows 8 ready? Why buy 7 if 8 is coming?”

“If there is a new one it will be called something like “Buffalo” or “Windows Supreme” – I think – not 8. It is away of marketing these programs and you have to have them to keep up.” I answered.

She was referring to the new “Windows 7” program that I bought for $114 the other day.

“Wasn’t the computer working O.K. as it was?” she continued, “It seems like you always needing to buy more things for the computer?”

I tired to explain that in 1991 when we were able to get our first second hand computer the system was running only on DOS. The screen was black with green font appearing on it. There was no colour available on that old thing. The last Church Office had a cool looking colour monitor with some called “Windows 3.1” on it – but it was fairly new. Some one had provided the church with a new computer that was then worth over $3500 – an unbelievable amount for anyone to pay out – let alone a church! But everyone was getting into it. My old black screen DOS based program worked well. I knew all the commands and it worked great.

I asked Alida if she remembered way back to 1993 when we saved the money and bought that first computer at the new Future Shop in Regina at that BIG SALE? She did. It was an amazing deal at $1100 for a new desk top with the new “Windows 3.1”. I told her that it was only about two months later that the “Windows 95” was released… and it costs a bit more but we bought it.

Then while we were in Regina they released the “Windows 98” which came on the next computer that we bought. The $1200 one was slow and we needed more space and power in the computer at that time… the small 40 Mega Byte hard drive was full. I was storing buckets of information on small diskettes that were now piling up. The new 175 MB Hard Drive was so much quicker and new RAM came with it!!!

In 1998 when we moved to Peterborough the desk top machine that we had rode in the back seat to protect it from excessive movement and the possibility that parts would shake loose. I had tweaked this one and built it the way that I wanted it increasing the smaller 100 Mega Byte Hard Drive with the then over 400 Mega Byte Hard Drive that was sizzling… With my computer background I had been able to keep up, stay ahead and be more tech-savvy than most.

The secretary at our church was using a type writer to peck out the text on the paper, cutting it out and then taping it to another piece of paper to make the church bulletin.

We bought a new computer for the church and the necessary side stuff. It was a learning curve but I taught her how to use the new Publishing Programs (Corel Draw 7 and then 9 to be exact). What a difference it made. A whole new world opened up to us at the church.

When other pastors and folk in the church were having problems with their machines I made a little extra cash by repairing theirs and making the upgrades happen. That was fun and profitable.

Since 1998 I have crossed the border between Desk Top Machines and Lap Tops… never to go back again.

Just before dropping off to sleep Alida had listened to that long story. I know she was thinking… “Think of all the things we could have done on the house with that money!” But she didn’t. Bless her heart – she understands now as she checks her own email each day… and reads some of the stuff on her FaceBook. She is one cool Grandma!

Upgrading Again…
Yesterday at about 1:00 PM I began the installation of the new “Window 7” operating system. This morning when I crawled out of bed at 6 AM it was done. The warning on the screen as I began was that this could take several hours. It did! In my case it was about 13 or more hours. I was asleep when it completed its work.

It works like a dream this morning. And the new stuff that it has will take me days to discover it all. It is like getting that first “Windows 3.1” loaded computer way back in 1993… with so much to learn. That NEW FEELING is so much fun… oooieee!

For the other “techy-loaded-question-and-fearing” people – it was easy – except for the 13 plus hours to get the job done. I lost nothing on my machine. Everything is working good so far.

I have a mere 240 Gigabyte Hard Drive on this Lap Top. It had about 67 Gigabytes of free space when I started the Windows 7 installation. Now it is sitting at 71 Gigs of free space. Used Space was 156 GB and it now sits at 153 GB!!!

It required 16 Gigs of free space to install and then left me more space when it was done. I think that was good… I think! There was nothing left laying on the desk when it was done – no extra screws the way there used to be… (ahem!).

My granddaughter Emma came over the other day and asked, “Grandpa, can I go on to Webkinz?”

“No problem! For you I will do anything.” I said.

“Grandpa – your computer is so cool! It does everything!”

I grinned…

Wait till Emma sees what it is like NOW! Whoah! She doesn’t know what cool is! At 65 I am still way a head of the crowd… puffing a little… but I now have “Windows 7”.

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

Burned out, Hurt, and Exhausted – My last three Posts on PTSD

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.
If you have followed the progress of my Web Site Yesterday Misty Hollow Carving’s Web Site hit a new all time record. It reached 11,903 hits in one month as of Yesterday! WILL IT GO OVER the 12,000 Mark today or tomorrow? I THINK IT WILL!!! Woopieee! So close I am holding my breath!!!!

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Thanks a million!

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Blog Post for today…
Burned out, Hurt, and Exhausted – My last three Posts on PTSD
As I read Scott Wisely’ s words on Wm. Paul Young’s Blog I was moved again.
Scott states…
“I am reading “The Shack” for the 2nd time. I read about 3 pages a day and cry alot. I am an MK and now at the age of 43 dealing with boarding school and all the abandonment issues that go with that. I've now been a tentmaker/missionary for 14 years in Papua. Lived in Pyramid for 8 years and now in Bokondini. We are burned out, hurt, and exhausted and here in the states to recover. God has used you in a powerful way in our lives. I have a zillion questions... much in re. to healing, forgiving and letting go of past hurts. God is doing a slow work and I am finding some answers from your pen. Thanks.”
I felt for Scott… deeply… symptoms that I know and have walked with different times in my life. I have been to Papua a few years back as well…a very long airplane ride… the Irian Jaya end of the great Papua.

I witnessed the deep effects of the hatred and the violence in that area as well. Yes there was much between the local tribes people – but the Missionaries had caught a belly full and tried to emotionally wound each other. I didn’t know the story until I arrived there… but then the story erupted after I left… until many lives were destroyed. And the people in charge covered it all up – because lives were at stake and money was involved. (But that is another story… yikes!)

Quite a while ago Brenda dropped off a book and asked me to read it. Inside the front cover she placed a
yellow sticky note that stated,

Murray –
This is your copy… I’d be interested in hearing your take on it.
Brenda

The book was “The Shack” by William Paul Young.

On the front cover just below Young’s name is a statement by Eugene Peterson that states, “This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!”

I had read that part right after Brenda gave me my copy. Eugene’s words stuck with me – but I wasn’t ready to read it yet.

Two weeks I ago I started reading this powerful little book. I am not able to stop reading it. Oh yes it has had an effect on me. People around me have noticed a difference.

In so many ways my own journey in the last years has been a parallel to the story that is recorded here.

The very naming of my own new business, “Misty Hollow Carving”, is so similar to The Shack – that I was floored when I read this. In so many ways I was dumbfounded. How could a man I never knew and have never met – write such a similar story?

Could it be true that MANY people have walked this walk of Elijah – but are not willing to share their stories because of whatever!

Thank you Brenda… for a well times gift… and the impulse that you followed to deliver it as a Gift. But then you already know your part in my journey back.

A person identified as “Waynesydneyaustralia” wrote of his reading of The Shack…
Paul, I have a hunch from previous experience as a Christian Conference speaker that embellishing the truth, or even conveying fictional stories as true is not a big deal in American culture. In my culture though, Australia, this is seen as blatant lying. Your story is amazing and I have to say I enjoyed it but to convey, for what ever reason that it is true, and you certainly do, is very unhelpful, especially when there is theological implications. If the Shack was written and published in Australia this book would have received phenomenal criticism due to its misleading content. I do commend you on writing a great story however I criticize you for conveying it as true, no matter what the motivation was.

In fact I am just sorting through much of what people are writing to me and stating on this blog.

I haven’t yet completed the book… I keep reading over the parts that I love… that are so special right now… that I couldn’t have read one year ago. Now the time is right.

So if by chance I have knocked you a little off kilter with the last few days of posting… well – I am off kilter… and people that know me well have a hard time walking beside me sometimes.

More to come on The Shack..

And in case you haven’t read this part of the story… here is why it is called Misty Hollow…

Misty Hollow by Murray Lincoln

http://www.murraylincoln.com/story%20of%20misty%hollow.html

"Where’re you going Grandpa?” My short legs followed his stride through the tall golden grass out past Grandma’s garden. The grass was dry and shimmered in the sun. It led us to the edge of the farm yard that was marked by the fence line. Grandpa bent over and slipped through the fence wire and then held the wire down for me to scamper through. He still hadn’t answered me.

Then he said, “I want to show you a special place no one knows about. Want to come along and see?” My short legs quickened my pace as I followed him over the little rise up ahead. He was taking me somewhere special – his and my secret I was sure. The golden grass rustled as we walked along.

I was maybe eight years old. Mom and Dad had brought us down to the old farm from the city for this weekend – and then the kids stayed with Grandpa and Grandma while they got away for a few days down to North Dakota and Montana. My brother and sister were back at the farm house with Grandma.

It was just me and Grandpa. I was the oldest grandson out of all the grandkids – and grandsons were really important to Grandpa… better than the girls I was sure.

As we walked over the rise… suddenly down below us was the Hollow. That day there was a kind of haze, a mist that formed when the weather was just right. It hung in the Hollow.

The Hollow was carved out of the countryside by water running down from the Blue Hills in the distance. In the bottom of the Hollow was the “crick”.

It was maybe a quarter mile until we arrived at a special place in the Hollow where Grandpa stopped, sat down and just looked. He was quiet and so was everything around us. Only the never ending sound of the prairie wind was there – the forever wind. When you were down in the Hollow it was quiet with a peace that almost bothered young boys.

Grandpa simply sat there and savored it all. This was his quiet place and he was sharing it with me. He pulled out his pocket knife and began to carve on a stick that he had fetched from the willow tree. A slice here and a cut there, another few cuts over on this side… something was happening. A new “something” was appearing in front of my eyes. It wasn’t long before he handed me the brand new willow flute and said, “Try it.”

Amazing! From that small fresh branch he had quickly carved a willow flute.

Then something else happened that was even more magical. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife and gave it to me. “This one is yours. Try it and see what you can make.”

As I began whittling on a stick he gave me, he sat quietly looking over the Hollow. It was as if he had been here many times. It was his special place away from the noisy places in his life. This day he was sharing it with me. It was our quiet place together – just me and Grandpa, our pocket knives and the Hollow.

In my mind it was “Misty Hollow” and has remained that way for 56 years. Grandpa is gone now… and I am a Grandpa. And now I return to the Hollow every once in a while – in my mind.

In the past few years I was able to go back and actually see it again personally. The peace is still there and the wind is always blowing. Nothing has changed in the Hollow. The old farm is only a memory now. The row of bushes around Grandma’s garden are still there but there is no evidence of the life that used to live there, of the happy and sad days, of the noise of the house and the need to get out to sit somewhere in the Hollow.

Everyone needs a Misty Hollow. Over the years I have been able to find one wherever I have lived. I walk out to it away from the madness of my life.

About 10 years ago I joined some friends for a very early morning meeting on top of one of our highest hills. It was just before sunrise. Few people below were up yet. From the top of Amour Hill you can watch the beauty of the sunrise.

There to the east was the glowing ball rising again. Down below the mist had gathered in the dozens of Hollows that lay to the east. Each Misty Hollow was a place where some one lived. The smoke hung from some one’s chimney mixed with the mist of the early morning. It was so peaceful in the Hollow.

My Aboriginal friends told me that they believe these Hollows were made by the finger of God as he created the earth – making a special place for people to love – a place of peace.

Back to the Family Farm…
Grandpa went to the Hollow often. I imagine it was to escape the fact that the house was small and with 8 kids at the fullest time, there was always noise in his life.

When his first son was born a paraplegic, I imagine that is when he found the need to go there.

When times were really tough through the “dirty thirties” he likely walked there a lot too.

During the Second World War, when his one son was possibly going to be shipped out overseas – he walked there more often.

In his pocket was the same knife that he cut apples with, whittled his wooden sticks and also dug out the manure/mud from his boot treads. He cleaned the knife on his pant leg between uses…but that is another story about Grandpa…

Back home…
Wherever “Home” has been in my life I have always found and kept a "Misty Hollow" for me. In these past years I have retreated there often when the swirl of the business was nuts. When the human hurt around me is bigger than my soul can bear I retreat to the Misty Hollow again and again.

Today I welcome you to Misty Hollow. I haven’t taken many here – only my friends… and my grandkids.

After you spend some time with me… I hope you will find a Misty Hollow of your own.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Source:
From William Paul Young’s Blog
http://windrumors.com/2007/08/is-the-story-of-the-shack-trueis-mack-a-real-person/
and
Willie’s Personal Journey
http://www.theshackbook.com/willie.html

Dealing with PTSD – Part Three

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.


If you have followed the progress of my Web Site Yesterday Misty Hollow Carving’s Web Site hit a new all time record. It reached 11,751 hits in one month as of Yesterday! WILL IT GO OVER the 12,000 Mark today or tomorrow? So close I am holding my breath!!!!


To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 


Thanks a million!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Blog Post for today…
Dealing with PTSD – Part Three


I know that as some have read the material that I dared to write over the past two days… there are many questions about MY PERSONAL SANITY. Too funny – really. The very ones that would drive you crazy – or rather have driven a person crazy… are the ones that go after you again and again. Some are even secretly reading this right now! Gotcha!


The soldier returning from a Battle Field experience will come home – begin to act out and possibly has some terrible home disasters take place. The RCMP Officer might get help now as his fellow troops own up to the misery that is there. The minister that has gone through the terrible experiences in his quiet work with the screams inside will perhaps find help as well.


My hope is that all of them will. I have.


You will know by now that my work was and is revolving around the Bible – the greatest Text Book, History Book, Wisdom Book in the world… and even much more than all of that. It lives for me.


When at one point in my life I struggled with the horrific reactions of “good christians” (small ‘c’ intended), I discovered a comparable story personally.


A very religious man, a God follower, kind of a Pastor… dared to mess with a lot of Powerful People. One of these very Powerful People even developed their own form of worship… and had planted a whole lot of other kinds of religious leaders that did what SHE wanted them do. Her name was Jezebel.


(BTW – have you ever noticed no one ever names their little girls “Jezebel”?)


In 1 Kings 18 you will read the whole story of the conflict and how Elijah does his God Stuff and God does His Stuff. I love the Face Off that takes place.


I have added the Links to the “Source” part of this post below – taken from new and better translation of the Bible called the Message. Don’t pull out your Bible – read the Link below.


Then in 1 Kings 19 (again Link is below) after Elijah has been declared the winner… and in Chapter 18 has witnessed some horrific, gruesome, and violent actions – supervising the execution of all of Jezebel’s ‘pastors’ – out runs a horse – through heavy rains… a long ways… then he collapses. He is in perhaps the worst recorded PTSD every shared in ancient texts.


His recovery takes time – is the first thing that I learned. His recovery is supervised by an Angel. His recovery needs lots of sleep. His recovery includes good food – in this case Fresh Bread and Cold Water. His recovery includes the sound of a babbling brook. And he recovers – slowly.


He still has an attitude problem that God works on.


Read the Links and then put yourself into the mess and misery. Then walk/run with Elijah util you collapse. Then heal alongside of him.


I did that when I rediscovered this amazing old man Elijah. And slowly I healed too.


In order to tell of the healing – you need to hear the hurt. Often however… most people don’t want to hear about the hurt – so they will never know about the healing.


Our systems in Christianity(the Church today) are constructed in such away that it is not really smart to put the heavy stuff in a Resume.


In the church of 2009 you need a Resume to be even considered as a Minister in a Church. If you won’t send one to tell of who or what you are… they will never consider you. You must be hiding something if you do not submit one???


Just prior to the period 1980 through 1985 there was no such thing as a Resume. I completed my first one in 1985 for a possible church position. I had no clue as to what to write down.


I didn’t dare tell about the abuse by the older missionaries in Hong Kong of the younger missionaries and the National Pastors. I mean these Missionaries were next to God himself. So I stated that our ministry was greatly blessed of God. Which really meant the Old Miserable Missionaries didn’t kill me or my spirit.


I didn’t dare write about the stuff I had witnessed while working in other important roles prior to that where manipulation and undermining was rampant in many levels of Church Leadership across Canada. Having worked in the “Very Holy and Head Office of All Things Pentecostal” I was “next to where God Sat”. So I bragged about what I had witnessed God do through our ministry at that level. Which really meant that despite the corruption and confusion – I had escaped the harmful affects and learned well how to use the same kind of tools – when in doubt that is God was really in some things – or not.


Some of my fellow ministers decided while leading major church ministries in different parts of the country to have affairs with women they weren’t married to, some decided to steal money – tons of it, some were involved in Crime, and some as men walked out on their families for other men.


I had seen it all and decided that I shouldn’t put in the Resume things that might hurt my future. I decided that I could say – I praise God in my life and ministry because I didn’t go the way these other dudes had. But that meant I had to tell what I had been saved from… and you would get sued for that!


This is a terrible admission to make for the whole world to read… instead of telling the real facts of what I had been through – I simple told the listeners what they wanted to hear… and that kind of Resume always did the trick.


What you did in the past, what you had witnessed, made no difference to most – because they simply wanted you to do it their way after you were hired. And if you didn’t – you could well be pulling a “Huge Elijah” and the pretty little Jezebel would get you.


Jezebel means business… quoting from 1 Kings 19
Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: "The gods will get you for this and I'll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you'll be as dead as any one of those prophets." End quote


And the number one rule I have broken in this post and the other two before – “Don’t ever tell about what really happened!”


On Saturday mornings I watch my Granddaughter play football – along with a host of other folk. Very few talk about their religious backgrounds. Some know that I am retired minister.


I thought about these fellow football watchers… and wondered if I could or would invite them to church some day. That is a lingering thought… I am not sure where I could take them to show them what it really should be about. I will say that in 98% (allowing 2% for a possible change) there is little chance they will find the reality of God. I don’t doubt they could find God and will find God… he just may not be in church that day they attend.


I still attend to help me find a place to worship God – with people I love and care about… the two factors that are important to me. Yet when I am there the distraction is great.


I am on the other side of my PTSD – likely the PPTSD – that is the POST Post Traumatic Stress Disorder… having found some semblance of Order… and the very real God! Wow! What a trip it has been.


Again – if there is just one Pastor that reads this and realizes that they are not the only one… that has lived through Hell and Back – while trying to do Heaven’s work… It will be worth it all!


~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Source:
Bible Gateway
The Message – Elijah’s Conflict with Jezebel – 1 Kings 18
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%2018:1-39&version=MSG
The Message – Elijah’s reaction – God’s intervention – 1 Kings 19
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings+19&version=MSG