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Don’t forget your blessings in difficult times

CHURCH-COMMUNITY CONNECTION Pastor Ed Delph

Peoria Times Columnist

One of my challenges as a speaker and writer is that some people think I’m an expert.

Like me, many experts have more degrees than a thermometer in one area, but that doesn’t make us experts in everything. It’s easy for experts to believe their press. As a result, experts feel they have an excellent plan for our lives. However, many experts became “ex-spurts” after the whole truth became known. Consider this story.

Once upon a time, a sheepherder was tending his sheep at the edge of a country road in rural Wyoming. A brand-new Land Rover screeched to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man, dressed in a costly suit and tie, designer shoes, Gucci sunglasses and a Rolex wristwatch, jumped out and asked the herder, “If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?” The herder looked at the young man, then looked at the sprawling herd of grazing sheep and said, “OK.”

The young man parked his vehicle, connected his notebook and wireless modem, entered a NASA site, and scanned the ground using satellite imagery and a GPS. He opened a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then printed a 150-page report on his high-tech mini printer. Finally, he turned to the herder and said, “You have exactly 1,586 sheep here.” The herder answered, “Say, you’re right. Pick out a sheep.” The young man took one of the animals and put it in the back of his Jeep.

As he was preparing to drive away, the herder looked at him and asked, “Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?” “Sure!” the young man answered. “You’re a consultant.” “Exactly! How did you know?” the young man asked. “Very simple. First, you came here without being invited. Second, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Third, you do not understand anything about my business, and I’d really like to have my dog back.”

Notice the herder wasn’t impressed by the “give ’em the old razzle-dazzle” approach of the geeky, affluent “expert.” Why? He knew with flashy consultants more is said than done. The herder depended on his “thinker” rather than his “feeler.” The excellent presentation didn’t spellbind him because it was an excellent presentation. Just because something looks cool doesn’t mean it’s true.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. Discernment is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

A Native American elder once described his inner struggles about what he sees and feels going around him in this manner: “Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time.” When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, “The one I feed the most.”

Look at the title of this article again. Notice I started with two dog ideas. Now comes the third dog concept of this article. Remember the song that asks, “Who let the dogs out?” I agree with the Native American elder. We let the dog out of us that we have fed the most.

But it affects us and others also, constructively or destructively.

And many powerful voices are trying to influence you to feed the destructive dog inside of you. A wise man once said, “Be careful who you let on your ship, because some people will sink the whole ship just because they can’t be the captain.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted (mean dog) whenever I am contradicted.” Choose to be teachable, not offended. The good dog in you chews up the meat and spits out the bones. Accept that you have some toxic traits, too. It’s not always the other person.

Would you like some calm in the chaos? Start feeding the good dog. Someone once said, “I’m not interested in whether the glass is half empty or half full. I’m interested in figuring out how to fill the glass.” I like that. You glow differently when you have good people with honorable, truthful and good intentions in your life.

The mean dog says everything is canceled. Not true! Sunshine is not canceled. Spring is not canceled. Love is not canceled. Relationships are not canceled. Reading is not canceled. Naps are not canceled. Devotion is not canceled. Music is not canceled.

SEE DOG PAGE 26

nicole pesce & dan reed The Music Broadway

FREE ADMISSION

(a Love Offering will be received)

FREE ICE CREAM SUNDAES

following the performance!

9440 W. Hutton Drive Sun City, AZ 85351 623-977-8308 • BHCSunCity.com

16000 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City AZ 85351 Tel: 623-974-3611 IN-PERSON WORSHIP SUNDAYS - 10 AM

Music Begins 9:50 AM Live Live-Streamed at www.scfaith.org SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Revs. Mike & Sheryl Campbell Sandra Hobbs Piano, Organ and Harp

“An inclusive, welcoming, caring community, serving Jesus Christ”

Shepherd of the Desert

Lutheran Church - ELCA

11025 N. 111th Ave., Sun City/Youngtown • Worship Saturday 4pm,

Sunday 9:30am • Holy Communion both services • Pancake Breakfast 8-10am

Last Saturday Every Month

Drive-Thru Only • In-Person Bible Study

Wed 6pm

Handicap Bus - Call for pickup

(24hrs in Advance) 623 340-8232 Pastor Phil Gustofson, Interim Pastor

623-933-1359 shepherdofthedesertelca.org

Email: sodsecretary@qwestoffice.net

Harvest CHurCH

8340 W. Northern Ave. Glendale, AZ 85305

Information 623.334.9482 Dr. Ron G. Rockwell – Pastor Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

Nursery Provided Wednesday: Family Night 7:00 p.m. www.hcaz.org

101 Freeway91st ave.

Harvest CHurCH 8340 W. Northern

Northern Ave. 10250 N. 59th Ave. 623-937-9216

Sunday Services:

Bible Study ....................................... 9:15 am Morning Worship ............................ 10:30 am Discipleship Training ........................ 4:45 pm Evening Worship .............................. 6:00 pm

Wednesdays:

TeamKid, Youth Worship

Bible Study & Prayer........................6:00 pm

Dr. Mark Mucklow, Pastor www.fsbcg.org

10935 W. Olive Ave. Peoria 85345 Phone (623) 972-8479 office@westolive.com www.westolive.com Sunday Bible Study 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Classes for all ages - 7:00 p.m. Everyone Is Welcome!

Bellevue concert features Broadway music

BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF

The highly acclaimed duo of pianist Nicole Pesce and trumpeter Dan Reed will headline a free concert at Bellevue Heights Church worship center at 9440 W. Hutton Drive, Sun City, at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26.

“The Music of Broadway” closes the five-concert “Summer Sundae Sunday” series sponsored by the church. After the program, attendees are invited to enjoy free ice cream sundaes in Franklin Hall on the church campus.

Pesce began playing piano at age 7 and quickly committed more than 100 songs to memory. As a teenager, she appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and has performed with many show-business notables. She has composed more than 300 songs.

Reed picked up a trumpet at age 9 and earned a degree in music performance from the University of Indiana. He played professionally with Carnival and Princess cruise lines, where he was tne music director.

Since arriving in Arizona, he has been featured locally with many bands.

For more information, call the church office at 623-977-8308 or visit bhcsuncity.com, where the concert also will be available for online viewing.

DOG FROM PAGE 25 Dancing is not canceled. Imagination is not canceled. Kindness is not canceled. Conversations are not canceled. Hope is not canceled. Truth is not canceled. Don’t let the cancel culture, FOMO or social media madness cancel the good dog in you.

Think of this. Your terrible job is the dream of almost every unemployed. Your house is the dream of nearly every homeless. Your smile is the dream of practically every depressed. Your health is the dream of almost every chronically ill person. Your lifestyle is the dream of somebody else. So don’t let difficult times make you forget your blessings. Don’t think like everyone else. When you operate in your gift, you don’t have to be at the head of the table, for wherever you sit or stand, the table and the room will shift to you.

If you’re not willing to feed the good dog in you, no one can help you. But, if you are eager to learn to feed the good dog in you, nothing and no one can stop you. We let the dog out. It’s our choice. Do you know what that good dog is? It’s God’s nature built into us all. Let God reveal it to you and others. Remember, the giant in front of you is never bigger than the God who lives inside you.

So, learn to discern the next time a “razzle-dazzle” expert comes to you without being invited, telling you something you know is not valid, and get your good dog back.

Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. He has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy. com. He may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.