From the Desk of Murray Lincoln

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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Singing a New Song – but what is your Song?

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Singing a New Song – but what is your Song?

What song are you singing today?

No not the kind from the local radio stations. Not the kind from your youth – although that may help you and the ones around you a whole lot.

It is the song that depicts your life. The kind that shows what is inside of you just bursting to get out. The kind that will make you dance – or maybe make you cry for joy.

It is the song that comes from knowing God has done something spectacular and you want to shout about it….

Yes there are happy songs and sad songs – very sad songs that make everyone else sad when they hear you sing it – or live it.

Psalm 98

Living Bible (TLB) 98

Sing a new song to the Lord telling about his mighty deeds! For he has won a mighty victory by his power and holiness. ^2-3He has announced this victory and revealed it to every nation by fulfilling his promise to be kind to Israel. The whole earth has seen God’s salvation of his people. ⁴That is why the earth breaks out in praise to God and sings for utter joy!

⁵Sing your praise accompanied by music from the harp. ⁶Let the cornets and trumpets shout! Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King! ⁷Let the sea in all its vastness roar with praise! Let the earth and all those living on it shout, “Glory to the Lord.”

^8-9Let the waves clap their hands in glee and the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the world with perfect justice.

Psalm 98

The Message (MSG) 98

Sing to God a brand-new song.
He’s made a world of wonders!

He rolled up his sleeves,
He set things right.

²God made history with salvation,
He showed the world what he could do.

³He remembered to love us, a bonus
To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love.

The whole earth comes to attention.
Look—God’s work of salvation!

⁴Shout your praises to God, everybody!
Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

⁵Round up an orchestra to play for God,
Add on a hundred-voice choir.

⁶Feature trumpets and big trombones,
Fill the air with praises to King God.

⁷Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
With everything living on earth joining in.

⁸Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!”
And mountains harmonize the finale—

⁹A tribute to God when he comes,
When he comes to set the earth right.

He’ll straighten out the whole world,
He’ll put the world right, and everyone in it.

BUT – and it is a BIG BUT – not everyone wants to sing a new song – or rather is singing a new song. Their lives are messed up by addictions, by sin, by excesses, by selfishness, and they cannot sing a new song. Their song is old and tired and bitter and wasted. They have lost the joy their childhood once declared.

Sometimes it is age that robs people of that once vibrant self.

Sometimes it is disease that robs the family of the joy of life.

Sometimes it is an addiction to whatever that robs the family, a street, a community and maybe even a city of its joy.

Swiss Chalet

A few Years Back… we were sitting in Swiss Chalet in Whitby… my grandsons were sitting with me at my table – four boys and me… It was Father’s Day – the restaurant was full… it was slow… the boys were hungry and so was I…. Together we coloured the place mats… the food should come soon… but it didn’t. Then I turned the place mat over and started folding… bingo… there was a beautiful paper airplane… to my Grandsons delight…. But it wouldn’t fly well while we sat there. I immediately stood up on my seat… and launched the sleek aircraft across the restaurant ---- WOW! DID it every GO!

My daughter was mortified… and my grandsons were delighted. She said to me, “Sit Down DAD! I know lots of these people here and you are embarrassing me! SIT DOWN!!! And don’t you guys even think of trying what Grandpa does!!!! Don’t!!!”

I looked at my daughter and said… “If I die tomorrow these grandsons will remember me as a Grandpa that is FUN TO BE WITH – not the miserable old toad that most of the other guys are!!!”

Old can take away your song and make you sing one that no one wants to hear!

This week…

Consider the Rob Ford Family of Toronto… in my humble opinion we have watched one of the classic disasters of all time taking place just a few short miles away. Rob Ford is addicted to himself, power and the delusion that what he is infallible – when truthfully it is anything but the case. He thinks saying, “I am profoundly sorry.” Without a change in his life and addictions will make it okay

This past week as he paraded his wife in front of the world I felt so sorry – this family needs a new song.

Recently I took part in the closing of the Kingston Penitentiary – 175 years of misery, of hatred, of anger, of violence took place in that horrific place.

Young men and old men left their homes after crimes were committed – and in that first year or so cried themselves to sleep each night… until there were no more tears.

My soul hurt after walking the walls inside – the anguish – the torment – the no song sung… or no song left because of imprisonment.

In The Message – again…

Sing to God a brand-new song.
He’s made a world of wonders!

He rolled up his sleeves,
He set things right.

Every man and woman that I have met in Prison needs a New Song…

Flash back – to KP again… on one of visits to meet a hardened sex offender before he was released to our community…. The Chapel next door was in session… and the choir of men’s voices singing, “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound..” was amazing. A NEW SONG…. Even though they are hated by society – God loves every last one of them.

What about Your Song? Have you discovered the New Joy that you need?

God wants to give you a New Song – because he has given you the Victory!

Jesus has promised that he will never leave you not forsake you!

Now take a hold of the knowledge that God loves you so much…

Have you thought much about Heaven? Do you realize that for Eternity we will be together in Heaven singing New Songs of praise to God the Heavenly Father?

WOW!

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Avoiding Dead Air Time – from John Maxwell –

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“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

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Avoiding Dead Air Time – from John Maxwell –

(see Source)
Connecting is the leadership ability to identify with and relate to people in such a way that it increases your influence with them. Connecting demands constant attention on the part of the leader so that people stay tuned in to the vision, values, and priorities of the organization. The trick is to keep the connection going no matter what transpires.

KEEPING OTHERS TUNED IN

Before baseball games were televised, radio stations across the country competed against one another for market shares of the listening audience. Watching the game on-site from the grandstands, a correspondent hammered out its happenings in Morse code and sent real-time updates via telegraph to radio stations across the country. At the receiving end, a telegraph operator translated the encoded reports for a broadcaster, who then announced the play-by-play action as if watching the game live.

One young announcer faced a sticky situation when his telegraph machine momentarily malfunctioned during the middle of a ballgame between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. Knowing his listeners would switch to another radio station if he stopped broadcasting, the young man improvised to buy time. He acted as if the current batter was fouling off pitch after pitch after pitch. He described one foul ball as nearly being a home run—flying over the fence only a foot wide of fair territory. He elaborately fabricated another story about two boys tussling over a foul ball hit into their section of the stands. After ad-libbing for a few minutes, the announcer started to sweat. He knew the charade would have to end soon. Just as he was on the verge of confessing to having lost communications, the telegraph wire came back to life. Relieved, the young broadcaster resumed the broadcast—finally able to relay the game’s actual proceedings.

The quick-witted young announcer was none other than Ronald Reagan, future president of the United States. Reagan’s aptitude for connecting with audiences garnered him the nickname of The Great Communicator. This simple illustration from his days as a radio broadcaster is packed with insights on connecting with people.

1) Be Creative

Ronald Reagan cleverly used his imagination to keep his audience tuned in to the broadcast of the ballgame. He found an inventive solution to an unforeseen difficulty. Communication without creativity quickly ends in disconnection. As a leader, your challenge is not merely to disseminate information but to capture the imagination of your people.

2) Tell Stories

Foul ball. Another foul ball. Yet another foul ball. That was the basic content of Reagan’s improvised announcing. However, Reagan succeeded in extending the radio broadcast because he turned each pretend foul ball into a colorful story. A player narrowly missed a home run, two kids got in a scuffle fighting over a souvenir, etc.

Packing information in a story extends its shelf life. In other words, principles fade but stories stick. If you want people to remember what you say, convey it in a narrative way.

3) Give Frequent Updates

The worst outcome for any radio network is to have dead air time. People listen long when all they hear is silence. Reagan knew that to keep his audience engaged he had to give frequent updates.

In any workplace, people want to be in the loop. They like to be informed about what is expected of them, about how they are performing, and about any changes on the horizon. When they feel stonewalled by leadership, or simply neglected by those in charge, they rapidly lose motivation.

4) Don’t Be Afraid of Repetition

Ronald Reagan described one foul ball after another while waiting for an incoming telegraph with news about the baseball game. He was not reluctant to repeat the same thing again and again. As leaders, we get in such a hurry to push forward that we sometimes forget that it’s okay restate our vision. Indeed, repeating it is never a waste of time. On the contrary, retelling the vision is crucial because 1) your organization experiences turnover and newcomers need to know the vision, 2) people are easily lose sight of the big picture, and 3) an enlivened vision energizes an organization.

Thought to Ponder

Who is the best connector/communicator you know? What specific qualities make him or her so captivating?

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Impossible odds, Creative faith by Brian Stiller

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Impossible odds, Creative faith by Brian Stiller
(My friend Brian Stiller - Global Ambassador)
It seems unlikely that an imposing former professional British football (soccer) player would end up as a social worker. And even more unlikely, is that he would be appointed by the Chinese government to help solve one of their most pressing problems – over a million orphans left on streets or languishing in countless orphanages. Not only has Robert Glover led in placing 250,000 Chinese orphans in Chinese homes in the last few years, he has signed an agreement with the King of Thailand to do the same there. This story tells of the mystical and sure guidance of the Holy Spirit in building out of personal gifting and skill to solve a seemingly intractable problem in places where we assume the name of Christ is unknown.

Signing up as a professional footballer with Portsmouth and Norwich City, Rob eventually ended up studying social work, taking one of his first jobs in Guernsey. A visiting speaker at the church they attended said “Robert, I sense you will be father to children like the stars in the sky.” Thinking it rather over the edge, he continued in his social work, focusing on orphans and their needs.

In 1996 while in China studying the problems of orphans, he was given tickets to the Chinese Special Olympics. Sitting next to him was a member of the Chinese Politburo. When he asked Robert why he cared for children he replied, “What I do for children, I do for the Father. God made the family for creation. When you warehouse children, they die.” The Politburo member said, “Meet me at 8 AM tomorrow. There is someone I want you to meet.”

Surprised by the invitation, the next morning Robert walked into a room of representatives of international organizations serving the needs of children. He sat and listened to accusations of the government’s failings. They finally turned to him and asked him what he would do. Quite simple he said, “You integrate them into Chinese families and train those families how to care for children, helping them deal with those often traumatized by being left destitute.” The minister asked, “Would you help us?”

Back in England the British Foreign Office called him to a meeting. In bilateral discussions, the Chinese had asked for help and the Foreign Office said, “Robert if you will go, we will fund it.”

Selling everything he, his wife Elizabeth and six children moved to China.

They began constructing a radically different model of caring for orphans in Shanghai, one he had refined as a social worker in England, under the name Care for Children, incorporated by John Langlois from Guernsey. At that time, Britain bid for and won the competition to host the Olympic Games and the Special Olympics. Rob’s life’s work was soon to expand as he sponsored North Koreans to compete in the Special Olympics in London.

Behind this scene are stories of political leaders that simply can’t yet be told. But within the senior lines of authority, Robert had his “Cyrus.” (If you recall, it was Old Testament King Cyrus who covered Nehemiah with authority, clearance and resources to leave Persia and rebuild the Jerusalem walls.) Robert had his benefactor. Doors were opened. Red tape cut through.

In time, Robert’s Care for Children became larger, placing in the first five years some 5,000 children and in the coming years up to 250,000 orphans: 60% with disabilities and 84% girls. In working with 300 orphanages, 4,000 orphanage workers have been trained in post-placement care, for each child and their receiving family. Orphanages became a centre for social servicing of a variety of needs. Today they have taken on five cities in China to provide models of best practice.

Families of any or no religion are invited to adopt. One day the government asked Robert to initiate his model in an area where he was warned, there were no Christians. Thirty couples wanting to adopt, showed up for orientation. The government official tried a little humor: “You know this man Robert is a Christian.” No one laughed. So he tried it again. Again no laughter. Finally a woman put up her hand and said, “Yes, but I’m a Christian.” The person next to her did the same. They went around the room and everyone there confessed to Christian faith.

On the way home the official noted his surprise and asked, “Why would Christians want to do this?” Robert took out his small Bible and showed where Jesus said it was our calling to care for the little ones.

In time government sponsored media picked up his story.

One story was all that some needed to convince them of Robert’s motivation and means. A little girl emaciated and dying of a hole in her heart, yet too weak to sustain an operation, had been placed in a home. Three years later she was the picture of health. The doctor then decided she was healthy enough to sustain the operation. The specialist examined her and with tears spilling down his cheeks said, “But there is no hole there any more.” Media picked it up calling her “The Miracle Baby, Healed by the love of a Mother.”

Story upon story layers this incredible journey. Flown in by helicopter to the summer palace of the King of Thailand, Robert was asked to set up his NGO there, and today is helping in the placement of children left alone on the streets or stashed in human warehouses.

Working with the most senior of government officials, free to be explicit in prayer and Bible study in their programs, a social worker, prophetically called was sent and obeyed. Armed with learned skills in social work, toughened by years on the soccer field, he took on an intractable problem of those thought least important. His vision and practical solutions brought hope to a society whose recent history is rooted in atheism. Doors were opened and by the witness of the Gospel and power of the Spirit, many places are experiencing social transformation and lives are entering into spiritual wellbeing.

In 2005 Robert was awarded the OBE from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

Little ones…for such is the kingdom.

Brian C. Stiller
Global Ambassador
The World Evangelical Alliance
November, 2013

Blog dispatchesfrombrian.com
Brianstiller.com

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Monday, November 11, 2013

The small table with the War Artifacts

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

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The small table with the War Artifacts

Yesterday I attended and lead the church service at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Cobourg, Ontario.

Through a very simple but dynamic presentation we remembered together the men and women that gave their lives for Canada in different wars around the world.

One of the congregants read out the names of the men from their congregation that had died in the different wars. The list was long and each name represented a sorrow that many had never recovered from.

I shared the story that I know best about Corp. Mark McLaren, whose parents are our friends and neighbors living just two doors away from us. In early December 2008 Mark was killed when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. That day the war came to our street.

My message yesterday also shared that this whole thing is more than just a Red Poppy… it is about families that will grieve forever… and that will always have one empty chair at that Christmas table in the years to come… and perhaps no grandchildren from their son as he died so very young… so far away.

As I spoke I was moved again to remember…

On a small Card table I placed some War artifacts that I have collected over these years. You can see them below… three soldier’s helmets, one lunch box, one soldier's pocket knife, three spent rifle shells, one unfired anti-aircraft shell, a small brass field gun and two oranges.

The two oranges were there to remind all of us of the rationing that all that lived in Canada experienced. I was about 9 or 10 before I saw an orange. During the war they were nowhere to be had – after the war no one could afford one even if was available.

The brass cannon was made by my dad in “the Industries” where my dad worked building guns just like this one for the soldiers overseas. It is now 70 years old. He couldn’t go overseas because of health issues. The lunch box was like my Dad's lunch box as he went off to the Industries each day.

The pocket knife was a gift from my Uncle that had come back from the World War II - wanted his nephew to have it. I was about 2 years old when he came home.

The shells were ones that I have found along life’s way. One is a Japanese shell(brass with the greenish corrosion) fired off when the Japanese invaded Hong Kong. When I lived in Hong Kong I found it on a hiking trail where the Japanese soldiers walked in 1941 to capture Hong Kong… the firing of that bullet likely killed a British soldier… and later almost 200 Canadians soldiers were executed by the Japanese soldiers one day after they arrived to defend the colony.

The helmets come from the World War I and World War II. The one(front row - right side) was brought back by a soldier that had been gassed in a trench in France… and was never again the same for his family back home. He came home by was never any good on the farm… post-traumatic stress – PTS happened in 1913 as well.

Yesterday I remembered… and cried for these men… and then I prayed for peace.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Saturday, November 9, 2013

Jackson Proscow and his fellow reporters are Heroes – Thank you!

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These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

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Jackson Proscow and his fellow reporters are Heroes – Thank you!

Today as I trolled for stories that I have been following I came across an interesting piece by Jackson Proscow, the Municipal Affairs reporter with Global News.

Jackson Proscow

I have seen Jackson on TV often as he brings on the spot reporting whenever something is going down or coming up.

In the most recent furor with the “Ford Circus” I caught it that Jackson was the one that asked the now infamous but all important question, “Have you ever smoked Crack?” – to the Mayor of Toronto. Apparently all the other reporters had never asked that correct question before – but now Jackson had and the Mayor stepped into the next phase where he started to admit more and more.

Today I listened to Jackson give me another slant that is so important to all of the stories… the reporter’s life through all the “BS” that is slung around them.

Jackson described what is like to be stationed outside a happening story that may suddenly have a whole new slant. The reporter waits and waits and waits and waits. That is one more wait than the Mayor had “ever-s” when he said the bad actions on his part will never ever happen again.

We have all seen the mash of reporters outside the Mayor of Toronto’s Office – waiting the BIG MAN to appear.

Jackson shared what it is like to never know if the Mayor is in a Bad of Good mood… and how it affects him answering or not.

Before I go further read Jackson’s article at “A reporter’s life on ‘elevator watch’ outside Mayor Rob Ford’s office”

Few of the public will even consider what the reporter goes through to tell a story to us.

In their own lives they have to be pretty sturdy with their emotions. They have to be very careful that they do not tell this BIG ASS MAYOR to simply drop dead. And that is why I am not a reporter as I have thought those thoughts of the liar on my screen of the TV.

Few of us would be able to have stood and keep standing when you are called a “maggot” by the Big Man and treated with as much disdain as one could possibly muster… the Ford Nation hates the Maggots even more than Ford does – in that the Maggots exposed their hero.

Yet Jackson Proscow keeps coming back to the story wherever it might happen.

I am admiring his stick-to-it-ness. My hat goes off to Jackson and his fellow reporters whatever their company may be.

There is much talk now of the Mayor of Toronto needing time off to get his act together.

I sure hope that the Managers at the News Rooms and Papers see the need for the reporters to get some time off as well. They certainly must need it.

Finally – thank you to Jackson Proscow and the other reporters for the fine work you have done. Not only in this story but in others as well. You Gals and Guys rock… and are my heroes.

Hang on folks – don’t quit and keep telling us what you see. We need that. Thank you.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Friday, November 8, 2013

Buy Local – Buy Handmade – or Buy Cheaper Junk

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

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Buy Local – Buy Handmade – or Buy Cheaper Junk

Now take a deep breath and then let it out…. Phew… again…. Phew… now that is better. This week can continue. Things have slowed down and the world has evened out. Halloween is over, Remembrance Day is upon us and now the Christmas rush can gallop up behind with all its hoopla. I am ready.

The sign said “Buy Local” and another said “Buy Handmade” – suggesting that the folks that are wanting to give a gift this Christmas time should consider buying from the local producers (food produce) and local Crafts People and Artisans.

I like the idea but then none of my friends are interested – or never call. It is always the people that are out there – new people that I have never met before.

It could be that I am not producing the Chinese style junk that is cheap. It could be that I use not enough lead paint to colour of carvings. It could be that my price is not 50 Cents (or less) per hour.

This past week a man strolled up to my table of carvings in the Mall. He was amazed with what I had produced with the carvings I had displayed. He was really impressed. I was happy.

Then he asked, “How much are these carved feathers?” I explained that the large feathers are $150 each and the smaller ones are only $85.

His reaction was almost comical as he jumped backwards and dropped the feather he was holding…. Saying… “So much… why so much?”

I wasn’t fizzed by his sudden disdain for my art work – which is exactly what it is when you are raving with your compliments one moment and dropping the item like a dangerous hot snake the next.

I asked him how much he made per hour at his place of business. I knew that he was fully employed and working at a job that paid about $75,000 per year.

I grinned at his third reaction… trying to regain his composure after acting like an admirer that had just became an ass. “I see what you mean… you can’t work for nothing.”

I explained that even at $150 for the larger feathers I am making between $5 and $10 per hour.

He agreed but didn’t buy.

He will buy his gifts at Wall Mart and get his “deal” – but he won’t get a feather.

Now I am in the Christian Community… and from a Christian community where I was known as a Minister… but even that doesn’t help. They are not interested and have little to do with me. It is the very Non-Christian type that encourage… or maybe that is non-church people…?

Sorry – if you are friend and come from that community. My statement is a large and wide brush that may get paint on you and me when it slops by us. I do appreciate your purchase and know that money is tight.

I am writing about the difficulty of working with the admiration and disdain coming from the same people. They can drive me nutso.

Oddly enough it is the stuff that sturdy Christians make a big negative deal about(they don’t like the product) that sells the best… so I carve it and they buy. Thank God for that kind of people.

Not complaining but simply showing what happens locally.

Oh by the way… Misty Hollow Wands (a whole lot like Harry Potter Wands) are now available. Let me know if you need or want one. But then there are also Feathers and Leaves and Love Spoons and great stuff made specially for you.

Would you like to see more – check out https://www.facebook.com/pages/Misty-Hollow-Carving-by-Murray-Lincoln/61395721561

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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