Ask questions, it will help you in the long run.
Be yourself, you will be more popular that way.
Check for toilet paper when you enter the stall.
Don’t procrastinate; there won’t be time later.
Get good sleep, each night, it makes school easier.
If you fall asleep in class, expect your teacher to embarrass you.
If you really have to fight someone there is no reason to do so on school grounds.
It doesn’t matter if you were trendy clothes even if people think it does.
Most of the time you can trust most of the teachers.
Remember you always have more growing up to do.
Someone will always think they’re better than you.
The more patient you are the better you’ll survive.
Girls: Keep a tampon or feminine pad in your locker.

How could my hero be so anonymous?

Sometimes heroes are like that. Living their lives without the publicity.

Heroes Are Usually Uncommonly Common People

Growing up I wanted to be a hero, to be special, to feel special, to do something special. I read comic books and admired public figures.

It’s funny, and sad, that it took me years until I realized that when I was seven years old, while sitting in a rickety wooden chair in a children’s program called Whirlybirds, that I sat in the presence of a genuine American treasure!

A Heroic Role Model

There are many ways to be heroic, most of them are daily choices to do the right thing at the right time, for the right reasons.

June has served God and the Chicagoland community for several decades as a law-abiding citizen, neighbor, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, counselor, teacher, youth leader, historian, writer, Sunday School teacher, church leader, social justice advocate and a person who loves the down and out with unconditional compassion and love.

June Oulund exemplified the principles that define TreeHouse a generation before our doors opened.

June has also made her mark as a historian.  As the former president of the Schiller Park Historical Society, June left a record of the past so that we can learn from their successes and well as their shortcomings.

With all that she has done to make individuals, groups large and small — sacred and secular — to see the good in life and in her community, June also is honest about her own shortcomings. She wants to be honest because in her honesty about her own struggles she points people to Jesus Christ, her Savior, not to a myth that implies she’s perfect.

Her honesty and humility serves to further illuminate two ways that June is growing into a Christ-like woman.

Do you see the wonder on the faces of two of June’s grandchildren?

Spending time with June is like that. When she speaks and you want to listen.

On this her 29th birthday [again!] I commend to you June Oulund my hero and a treasure you want to know!

Note – June you might fortunate enough to find a copy of June’s books:

Plow shares to jet fields: The story of Schiller Park

Reflections: Schiller Park through the years

Ernie Harwell, Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster died Tuesday night, “quietly, at home, with his wife and children by his side, and when the news was announced in Minnesota, where the Tigers — Ernie’s team — were playing, fans there gave him a standing ovation. In Minnesota!” A tribute to a man who worked for the opposing team for several decades.

What would prompt such an outpouring of love?

Ernie inspired:

Harwell was born “with a speech defect that left him tongue-tied” but through therapy and forcing himself to participate in debates and classroom discussions, he had overcome the handicap enough to become a Hall of Fame broadcaster.

Ernie philosophized:

Baseball is a lot like life. It’s a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life.”

Ernie was a role model as a husband and as a human:

His wife of 68 years Lulu Harwell, explained why Ernie was so friendly: “It’s Ernie’s nature not to say bad things about people. His mother told me that when he was a little boy, Ernie wouldn’t stand for his brothers saying anything bad about anybody.”

Ernie was humble:

In 1961, when he realized his success in life did not feed the deepest longings of his soul he met and committed his life to Jesus Christ at an invitation offered by Billy Graham during an Easter service during spring training.

Ernie was hopeful:

After his terminal diagnosis Ernie said that “Whatever happens, I’m ready to face it…I have a great faith in God and Jesus.”

I’m ready to face what comes,” he said at the time. “Whether it’s a long time or a short time is all right with me because it’s up to my Lord and savior.”

Harwell referred to death as his next great adventure, a gift handed down by God.

His illness, reported the Detroit News, “only led him to further embrace his Christianity and to try to be of humble consolation and inspiration to as many people as he could during his long and extraordinary life.

The greatest thing that can be said about any person when they have gone to their eternal peace is that they made the lives of others better, fuller, more verdant.”

Ernie was respectful:

World Series hero Kirk Gibson said, Ernie Harwell “was an icon. The saying that you treat people the way you want to be treated, he represented that to its fullest.”

“Harwell was so much more than an announcer. He was a voice inside of us as well as outside of us. A voice you still can hear, even though the world has silenced it. He was a man to admire, a satisfied soul, a shining example of life lived purely and honestly. And because of that, Ernie will live on inside everyone who ever met him, shook his hand, gave him a hug, or simply heard his soothing words come through a tiny speaker in a car radio, or through an earphone hidden from the teacher on a school day afternoon.”

Rapid Packaging owner and TreeHouse board member Mike Sime wrote in an email today, that God “has brought us all together ‘For Such A Time As This’. Satan would like nothing more than to discourage us in these tough times…”

I hope that amid the tough times in life that I live well.

Ernie Harwell died well, I hope to follow his example and live well. I hope you will too.

—————————————————————————————————–

If you want to know more about Ernie Harwell I recommend listening to Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook. If it remains unavailable, you can ask to borrow our copy.

“When conflicts arise or we have been hurt, or when others really irritate or offend us, it can be really tough to love them…For any number of reasons, our intention or attempts to love others can fall short.”

We want to love.  We want to act lovingly.  It’s our plan.  We think loving thoughts.  We would tell other friends or family members that we love ___, but when the conflicts arise it does not look very loving.

“In spite of our best intentions, sometimes, we don’t know what to do differently. Or, if we do know, we may feel that it’s just too hard or exhausting to keep trying.”

If you’re like me, that says it all.  Sometimes love can be so hard.

Here are several strategies that you and I can choose to practice that might make a real difference:

1. Accept responsibility for your thoughts and actions. Don’t undo your efforts to love someone by letting yourself explode or say something nasty.  And, if you screw up, fess up!

2. Accept that you’re powerlessness to change people. Even if you could change a loved one, it’s not your job. Your role is to love them, to encourage them, and to offer input when appropriate. Ask God for the courage and strength to speak the truth in the midst of conflict, and for compassion to do so patiently and lovingly. (Ephesians 4:15)

Remember that you always have power to choose how you are going to act toward others, regardless of their actions toward you. You may not have power to feel love or even to control your reactions as well as you would like. But you can discipline yourself to act kindly to show love in your actions—by being patient, kind, courteous, humble, selfless, forgiving, and encouraging (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

3. Let go of your demands. If you would like to be able to love them unconditionally – at TreeHouse we call that “love without strings” — then let go of your expectations that they respond the way you want them to.

4.  If you cannot love the person without strings, be honest about it. Or if you would like more from the relationship, talk with them about your needs and desires.

5.  Look in the mirror. “Instead of just trying to change your behavior, seek wisdom into what is going on inside of you that keeps prompting you to act in unloving ways. What needs do you have that are going unmet? How could you get your needs for love, for affection, for friendship met in healthy ways?”

6.  Admit that love is work. “By letting God’s love meet your deepest needs, and by following the Holy Spirit’s leading in the ways of love, you will increasingly become part of the solution to a world riddled with unresolved conflict, alienation, and pain. It’s also the only way to truly experience the full life that Christ intends for you.”

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:8]

Prayer: “Loving and gracious God, thank you for your unconditional love and mercy. Please help me to fully trust in your love for me, to accept your forgiveness, and to be renewed in the deepest part of my being. And lead me in the way of love, especially when it is really hard for me, so that all those around me may sense your love flowing through me.”

Tim Geoffrion regularly writes insightful posts on Spirit-Led Leader.  I recommend it highly. If you would like to read his article without my comments or edits again you can find it here.

In 1989 I walked onto the deck of the Brooklyn Park TreeHouse and there was Anne Marie Bovie.  “Hi,” she said, “who are you?”  I feel in love with TreeHouse, a home away from home for thousands of teens and parents.  Each person is expected to “help make this a safe place and to build community,” and they do.

When people join our community they find an caring environment with consistent values.

Our Values

* Spiritual Vitality
* Multidimensional Personal Growth
* Caring Relationships
* Service
* Teamwork & Collaboration
* Community
* Accountability
* Innovation & Growth

Over the past twenty years it’s been a privilege.  It’s been a challenge.  There have been heart-warming highs and heart-breaking lows.  Through it all I’ve seen lives transformed, families changed and futures re-directed.

TreeHouse’s legacy is one of love.  Loving Kids.  Bringing hope. Transforming Lives

The legacy of love that I am building upon comes messages of love that resonate in my heart.

From God’s Love Note:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

To An Expression Of  Love

Say all your “I love you”s, all your “I’m sorry”s and all your “thank you”s every day.

To A Loving Mindset

“True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.”

I Found A Method To Love

“Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear…”

Fear that warns us to beware of the price of sin.

“Jesus said, ’Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.’” And, when I remind people of Jesus’ advice I’ve seen many who’ve “turned… from sin.”

Love’s Power

We are more than conquerors through him who loved us…For I am convinced that nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love people like Jesus and when they look at you step aside and let them see it’s Jesus they were really in love with.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God:

Say all your “I love you”s, all your “I’m sorry”s and all your “thank you”s every day.

My thanks to God and everyone who contributes to this legacy of love — 20 years and counting.

And, my great thanks to the gifted Stephanie Vroman for creating this wonderful collage in which she expresses her love for TreeHouse:

Evernote Web Clipper – While creating curriculum or planning ahead for an unwritten article or an as-yet unplanned message I save nuggets I read online with Evernote.  Evernote Web Clipper let me copy and save the article I want.

Extended Copy Menu – My apologies to the author of Extended Copy Menu, but I really only use it for the “Copy As Plain Text” option, but I love it.

For example, if I found one of your brilliant insights I just highlight it, “Copy As Plain Text”, and save it without all the annoying formating, photos and advertisements which clutter and surround your wisdom.   Different than Evernote Web Clipper I use this for a sentence or two or a paragraph of text.

Forecastfox – A quick glance at the bottom of my browser and I see a quick 3-day forecast.  It reminds me to dress for the weather, and sometimes it reminds me to make sure I get away from the computer and enjoy the outdoors.

NoScript – It allows JavaScript, Java and other executable content to run only when I want them to run.  It prevents unwanted prevents exploitation of security vulnerabilities.  It’s a bit paranoid, but I like the control and safety it helps assure.

RoboForm – Some of you only use one or two passwords, not me.  I use Roboform to keep track of my passwords on PCs.  I primarily use free programs, but like Roboform so much it’s one of the few programs I am willing to spend money on.

As I mentioned yesterday, technically 1 Password and Roboform are both toolbars but I think of them as extensions of my browser’s productivity.

Note – Use a Mac?  I love 1Password!

WOT [Web of Trust] – As a researcher I often follow the trail or wade into uncharted waters.  WOT [Web of Trust] warns me to avoid unsafe web sites.

Xmarks – I use several computers, a couple OSs & even run apps from flash drives.  I love having my Bookmarks available to me wherever I go.

Happier surfing!

Extensions

1-Click YouTube Video Downloader – I like to save & play my favorite videos on my computer.

1 Password – Some of you only use one or two passwords, not me. I use 1Password to keep track of them on Macs. I primarily use free programs, but like 1 Password so much it’s one of the few programs I am willing to spend money on. Use a Windows computer? See RoboForm.  Technically 1 Password and Roboform are both toolbars but I think of them as extensions of my browser’s productivity.  So there!

Adblock Plus – I hate being annoyed — and offended – by all those ads and banners the long web page load times. Adblock Plus helps get rid of them. I’m always amazed when I work on someone’s computer who does not have an adblocker how much more trash they see than I do.

Auto Copy – My apologies to the author of Auto Copy, but I really only use it for the “Copy As Plain Text” option, but I love it. If I found one of your brilliant insights I just highlight it, “Copy As Plain Text”, and save it without all the annoying formating, photos and advertisements which clutter and surround your wisdom.

AutoPager – Ever get tired of constantly clicking a link on a page to read a whole article online? AutoPager automatically loads the next page for you. Note – It works great on some sites [google.com] and it’s annoying on others [biblegateway.com], but you can change your settings.

DownThemAll! – Ever wanted to download all the articles on a web site but wish that you could grab them all at one time? DownThemAll! does it in a flash.
For instance, I was reading Tom Peters’ and wanted some more.
I went to his Free Stuff page and found several interesting articles.
Rather than “save as” several times
I: Firefox –> Tools –> DownThemAll! Tools –> DownThemAll! –>
I set where I want them saved, for example: Save Files in: Documents/Leadership/Tom Peters
Filters: I checked no boxes
Fast filtering: pdf
Scroll down and yup, 28 articles, in pdf format, are green checked ready to download into the folder I chose.
Hit start and I’m all set!

Trying to find an appropriate word for being underground, under the groundhog, I reached out to my browser.

“My browser”?

Yes, I love the dictionary.com search engine. If you’re using Firefox I hope you have the dictionary.com search engine, if you’re not and want to here’s how to get it:
left drop-down arrow
Manage Search Engines
Get more search engines takes me to: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/type:4/cat:all?sort=name
Click here or just cut and paste: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9227
Add to Firefox

While trying to shake free from my malaise I read what other writers did when enveloped in writer’s block. A google search led me to this quote by Maya Angelou:

“What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’” ~~ Maya Angelou ~~

Note – quoted by Richard Nordquist on About.com

I love her humility and sense of humor expressed in this quote.

Time to get to work!

No gimmick, no scheme, no quick fix, I just found some common sense that was not common to me.

I’m not working today because I’m on a furlough. I’m not being paid to not work. The economic challenges hit TreeHouse.

At the risk of sounding like a martyr, Amy and I still struggle with the financial impact of my choice to work at TreeHouse. In 1990 during my first month at TreeHouse I made $30. As the months went by I had several paychecks of less than $200.

I was completing my Master’s degree, my daughter Shannon was born and my wife Amy stayed home to raise her. We lived entirely off the money I made at TreeHouse, some gifts from family and friends, food shelves, and handouts.

There were times when we had an empty refrigerator and we couldn’t afford milk. Over the years, in order to continue working at TreeHouse — where I thought God called me to serve — needless to say, we incurred debt.

This is not a self-pity blog, just the opposite!

Beyond Martyrdom

Debt. Sometimes it was mismanagement of the money we had, sometimes it was having too little money, other times it was just having too many things go wrong with the house, the car or the kids.

We had money stress.

Then a couple of years ago my friend Eric Swensrud invited me to a Dave Ramsey videoconference.

I had barely heard of Dave Ramsey. I didn’t want to go. Amy, my wife, did.

We went. I went reluctantly.

I sat listening. I was cynical. I took notes – partly out of habit, but mostly so I was not disruptively bored.

I have to admit Dave Ramsey was funny, but more importantly he seemed to make sense, common sense.

Beyond My Reluctance

Well, I bought in.

We decided to make small progress, Dave Ramsey calls them baby steps.

I didn’t spend a dime, but we did buy in. We thought that with Dave Ramsey’s common sense and some more self-discipline we could make positive changes despite our financial crisis.

Amy and I sat down. We looked through our bills, our checkbook, whatever financial records we had. We honestly looked at how we had spent money.

We had to set aside our shame and guilt for ways that we had mismanaged our finances.

Oh, it wasn’t pretty. No, no, no!

Needless to say, we started a budget.

Yes, we wish we had more money — just like you do — but with our new pretty strict and successful budget we have found thousands of dollars to reduce our debt.

As I sit here the week before Christmas, in the midst of a week without pay – my furlough – I am not as afraid as I might be because we started, modified and maintained a budget for the last few years.

If you don’t have a budget I strongly recommend one. We have found freedom in having more self-discipline!

I think you will too!