Jonathots Daily Blog
(3668)
1. “Are you having a good day?”
2. “I noticed you really love…” (Could be their dog, their kids, art, or music. Personalize your encounter.)
3. “It was a joy and honor to have met you.” (Talk to people like you’re conversing with God.)
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3661)
1. Your mirror
2. Your daily “line in the sand” resolutions
3. Your original Facebook profile
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3076)
It is a medium-sized green table with retractable legs which we purchased at Wal-Mart about four years ago for $49.95.
We use it as a dining table in our motel room and it has faithfully served us many a meal, and even been put into service as a desk top for studious planning sessions. After all these years, it is a little beaten up, scarred and certainly worse the wear.
I could buy another table. I’m not cheap–it’s just that this table has not yet refused to stand up to its responsibilities. It continues to completely open itself up, offering its potential, although a bit bedraggled.
When I arrived at the Belleville United Methodist Church in Belleville, Michigan, and met so many intriguing individuals–including Pastor Jim–I was struck by the fact that most of us human beings are like my green table. We’ve been through some spills. We’ve been spread out, damaged and find ourselves in need of attention.
You can see in the picture where I have taken some duck tape to cover a multitude of errors.
Now here’s my thought–if we’re going to be a good church and reach people, the first thing we need to do is admit that we’ve been repaired. Yes, we’ve got the duck tape of salvation to prove it. We’re not pretty, but we’re still able to stand up.
We also need to look in the mirror, not just for the purpose of good grooming, but to make note of our flaws before they become so obvious that we’re dubbed “ugly.”
So I carry a little mirror. I don’t like big mirrors–they display too much of me. But a little mirror lets me know that my face is still worth showing to the onlooker.
And I guess I want those people in Belleville to know that like a used Kleenex, I have already been put to the task, but 
I’m still not ready to be thrown away.
Sometimes we look at older congregational members, and because they retired from their companies, we assume they’ve retired from life. Not so. None of us gets off that easy. Until we crawl into some sort of box and jettison off to heaven, we need to keep growing.
Yes, I’ve been used, but not abused, and I’m still worthy to be used some more.
And as you can see in the fourth picture, my table has some fresh tears. I haven’t gotten around to putting duck tape on them yet, but I’ll have to do so soon to keep them from spreading.
In other words, just like my table, I still have wounds. Sometimes I’m too touchy, so I keep coming back to church with my brothers and sisters because I need fixin’.
Many Americans don’t like to admit weakness. But the most powerful statement in life is, “I’m not good enough to be called good yet.” 
In other words, don’t give up on me, don’t tell me I’m used up, but please remind me to look in my mirror and view my flaws.
The good news is, if visitors came to church and found human beings instead of folks trying to imitate what they think is righteous, they might just want to come back again.
The better news is, it’s much easier to live out life as a human instead of pretending you’re an angel.
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(2440)
Despair comes into our lives when the pile of what we need seems to be bigger than the pile of what we have.
It’s an issue of perception.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small child in India or the Son of God, struggling in the Garden of Gethsemane, suddenly overwhelmed by the task ahead. You still want to screech, “Take this away from me!”
Despair is hard to escape. The classic remedies of prayer, counseling, positive thinking or even medication are all limited in their scope, based on faithfulness to the process.
Let’s be honest. It is very difficult to be faithful when you’re scared.
If you’ll allow me, here are three ways to set in motion a process to conquer despair by not allowing it to wash over you in the first place:
1. Don’t ignore your moods.
You are an emotional person and merely quoting scripture, uttering your mantra, finding your yoga position or trying to ignore the problem is not going to make it go away. Our moods are powerful to us because they project the symptoms of a condition existing in our soul, which requires our attention.
Stop perceiving yourself as “moody,” and realize that you are actually symptomatic. There is a tendency in our society to try to douse the emotions and limit their value. This is the worst thing we can do.
Deal with your emotions–they are telling you something important coming from deep within your soul.
2. Find a human mirror.
You will consider yourself irreparable until you realize there are other people in your same situation, and you can see your problem or apprehension in the face of another human being. This is why rehab surrounds you with addicts instead of people who have never taken drugs sharing their insights on self-control.
We all need a mirror.
I can’t change my life if I’m looking at people who have never had a life-changing experience. Look in the eyes of someone who suffers from the same despair that you do and draw strength from his or her struggle.
If you surround yourself with people who appear not only to be stronger than you, but also let you know how much stronger they are, you will only deepen your anguish.
3. Find a friend to note your progress.
Yes, you will need to be honest with someone. For a moment you will have to stop trying to be Superman or Superwoman, and admit you’re Clark Kent or Diana.
You will make progress. You’ll have a tendency not to ignore it because your expectations are too high. Get someone who understands your pursuit and can tell you how many steps you’ve made from where you started.
There are those who want to make depression and despair an illness, and perhaps in a handful of souls, it is.
But most of us become trapped in a cave of misunderstanding and worry, and soon find ourselves nearly immobilized–unable to function.
At that point, if you will simply give place to your moods, find other human beings who reflect your need, and get a friend to encourage you in your steps of progress, you can actually win the day and bring despair under your control instead of allowing it to make you an inmate to its prison.
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(2437)
All human beings possess a heart, a soul, mind and strength.
Nothing of any true significance can be achieved unless this is understood.
Every human being gets angry. Beware of those who insist they don’t–they are ticking time bombs, having stuffed all of their frustration down inside, likely to explode at a most inopportune time.
Anger is an emotion. To take a class in anger management is the belief that we can control that emotion by using better thinking.
I must disagree. As an emotion, anger must be handled emotionally.
So in pursuing the alphabet of us, let’s look at how we should handle our anger:
1. Be verbal.
Emotions should not be trapped without speech. It is “out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” What you want to ensure is that you can speak in a climate where you don’t have to be judged by your adversary, but can sound off to a friend and hear your feelings expressed in syllables.
That’s right–practice. Rehearse your anger–in the mirror, to a friend, to God or to anyone who is not the source of your resentment.
2. Listen to yourself.
There is nothing worse than being in the middle of an argument and hearing yourself voice your misgiving for the first time, and suddenly realize how stupid it is. Then you’re stuck in the midst of a fight, with your pride trying to win the day.
Listen to yourself.
That’s why we need to be spiritual. It is the soul that gives us the ability to separate out the real complaint from the blown-up rendition.
3. Clear your head.
There’s only one way to renew your brain. Make sure you take all previous experiences and set them aside in favor of a fresh encounter.
That’s what clearing your head is. It’s offering a brand new pathway, to allow conversation to produce change.
4. And finally, choose what’s really important.
Before you go have that interface with a person who has upset you, find out the core issue. Keep your anger as small as you possibly can to make it easier for the person hearing your insights to comply.
The biggest mistake we make is separating our parts–heart, soul, mind and strength–and believing they have the power to act on their own.
They are a team. They perform best as a team.
And the only way to handle anger is to use their teamwork.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Please contact Jonathan’s agent, Jackie Barnett, at (615) 481-1474, for information about scheduling.
*****
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(2208)
There are those who would question whether the human race needs a savior. They contend that we are as we have evolved, without need or apology.
Yet most of us, spending some time staring in the mirror, have noted some vacancy in our soul and clutter in our conscience. We require a savior who offers transforming salvation.
I am Jesonian. I have chosen Jesus because he:
He was human.
And because of this, he is qualified to be the Savior of the human race.
Jesus didn’t save us by dying on the cross–he already had saved us by becoming a little lower than the angels … just as we are.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Click here to get info on the “Gospel According to Common Sense” Tour
Please contact Jonathan’s agent, Jackie Barnett, at (615) 481-1474, for information about scheduling SpiriTed in 2014.
Jonathots Daily Blog
(2096)
I was born.
Although present, I retain no memory. Apparently there were people who were excited about the idea, who later became overwhelmed with the duties and responsibility and eventually settled into a nearly comical profile, blending pride and disappointment. Funny thing about family–it is often touted as our greatest benefactor. But truthfully, it’s more like investors grumbling over the return.
They gave me a certificate at my birth to confirm that the appearance actually happened–that I was not an alien and therefore was qualified, or at least permitted, to be President of the United States if I reached such an arrogant and ridiculous conclusion.
As wonderful as it is to be born of the wife of my father, I have found this year that to be born of Mother Nature and honoring my Father in heaven to be an even greater transformation.
Yes, this year I feel like I have received a “Rebirth Certificate.” It was really quite simple to procure. After all my years of earth travel, I have finally surrendered to a pair of principles that make everything work together to the good:
That’s it.
If you can remind yourself of these two ideas every day, you can finish out with the setting of the sun having a joyous resignation to reality.
Of course, the society I live in denies these two precepts and replaces them with “dream big and don’t take crap off of anyone.” Matter of fact, you can get a cheer in almost any gathering by proclaiming your uniqueness, individuality and determination that you will not be overcome.
Not me.
Today is my birthday, so I’m going to tell you what I’m celebrating:
It is a “Rebirth Certificate.” I don’t expect too much and I try real hard not to get offended.
Since I have no recollection of my initial forthcoming from my mother’s womb, if you don’t mind, I will celebrate this new experience.
Born again.
Yes, I think I finally get it.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Click for details on the SpirTed 2014 presentation
Please contact Jonathan’s agent, Jackie Barnett, at (615) 481-1474, for information about scheduling SpiriTed in 2014.
click to hear music from Spirited 2014
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 | Jonathan on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
 | Nolan on 1 Memory About Jonathan Richar… |
 | Maxine Mantooth on Drawing Attention … Dece… |
| Steve on From the Stacks … Octobe… |
| Maxine Mantooth on Scrambles … October 20th… |
| Maxine Mantooth on From the Stacks … Octobe… |
| Maxine Mantooth on Scrambles … October 13th… |
A voice writing in the wilderness
Jonathots Daily Blog 