Filled with true stories gleaned from her work at a Christian pregnancy
resource center and its thrift shop funding partner, Hansen tackles such topics as:

*         Biting off more than you can chew
*         Acquiring more than you need
*         Daring to do something different
*         Over-managing the ministry
*         Being in a hurry
*         Finding your focus
*         Underestimating the enemy
*         Second guessing God

8 Keys will challenge you to go beneath the surface
and rethink what you believe about getting organized
while helping you re-examine your relationship with the God
who delights in bringing order out of chaos.
Key Questions at the end of each chapter
makes this an excellent tool for individual study or for use in small groups.
Either way, be prepared to use what you learn
to unlock the secrets of order and organization.

         The Fire Within

         Autographed copies are available.
          $10.00 each (includes shipping and han-dling)
         To order a copy, E-mail: brendahansen@frontiernet.net

The Fire Within

An excerpt by bjhansen

The doorknob cut deep into Kelly's back. The smell of Vincent's foul, liquor-laden breath nauseated her. For a brief instant she was back in Detroit, in a steamy parking lot on a hot August night. The hard chrome of a car door handle knifing her in the back as she struggled with this same evil creature. That night, it had been intense fear that had driven Kelly blindly along. Tonight, it was pure, unadulterated hatred.

"Let go of me, you slimy viper! Let go of me or I'll...I'll..."

"Or you'll what? Call on your God to send down his lightning bolt and strike me dead? Well, go ahead! Do it! Do it!" He shook her as he laughed in her face.

"Where is your God now, Kelly? Is he going to come rescue you?" He placed his right hand around her throat. "Or is he going to punish you for your hypocrisy by letting Satan squeeze the life right out of you? ... That is what you think, isn't it Kelly? That I'm the devil himself. Don't you know you should never pick a fight with the devil?"...

He tightened his grip yet again and Kelly began to black out. She clawed frantically with her free hand at the one that held her neck, but she had already used up too much of her energy fighting for air. In a last ditch effort, she kicked out at him, but suddenly found herself striking out into thin air. It was a second or two before she realized the viselike grip on her throat was gone.

As her head started to clear, Kelly could see Vincent now backed up against the wardrobe, his face red and swollen with rage, his own throat caught in a steely grip. The hand that held him was strong and powerful, the fingers taut and sinewy. Her eyes traveled up the arm and shoulder and came to rest on ice-gray eyes.

"The lady told you to let go of her," Adam said, his tone murderously flat. "Perhaps you can't hear very well."

Vince swung out at him with both fists, but Adam easily deflected the blows. He adjusted his grip on the pudgy neck, and Vincent's face went white.

"Dear God", Kelly thought, "He's going to kill him."

For a brief instant, a flash of utter shame washed though her as she realized she didn't find that idea so distasteful. But, finally, she found her voice.

"Adam, don't! Don't hurt him! He's not worth it!"

"She's right you know," Adam said, more to himself than Vincent. "You're the most pitiful, wretched creature I've ever seen." He took in a long deep breath and let it out slowly.... A new expression settled in Adam's eyes. He relaxed his grip and stepped back. ... Adam grabbed Kelly's arm and guided her through the lower levels of the burned out building... When they were alone, Kelly collapsed in Adam's arms, the emotional turmoil of the night finally catching up with her. ... He bundled her up and helped her out to his car... (But) It wasn't until she was safe in her own apartment that she finally found her voice.

"I was wrong, Adam."

He looked at her, puzzled.

"I guess I do need a bodyguard."

Adam's wry smile in response to her declaration eased the tension in the room. ...

"You know, I was wrong, too." Adam said. "I do care a great deal about you. I admitted that to myself tonight. When I saw you with Vince, I wasn't only afraid for your safety, I was completely overcome with jealousy. I know that sounds awful, but I wanted to tear him apart." ...

"Why didn't you?" She asked.

"I suppose because I suddenly pitied him. I heard him profess his love for you, and I remembered what you said about people getting all twisted up in their thinking when it comes to love. He seemed so pathetic - and I just felt sorry for him."

"You felt sorry for him?" Kelly asked incredulously. "After he tried to kill me?"

You almost sound like you're sorry I didn't hurt him," Adam replied... "Why do you seem so upset that I showed the man a little compassion?"

A knot of anger formed in Kelly's throat, and it made her even angrier to realize she didn't know where the emotion was coming from.

"Maybe I'm upset because that man just tried to kill me and you seem to be defending him."

"I know his thinking is all warped, but you said that such a person needs to be treated with compassion and understanding."

"I wasn't speaking about Vince Rosselli at the time. The man is pure evil. He doesn't deserve anyone's mercy."

"He's still a human being though," Adam challenged. "With all the flaws and fallibilities that implies. He's hurting, Kelly."...

"And that gives him the right to attack me?" Kelly's voice had risen a half-step.

"Of course not." Adam lowered his voice. "Just like my jealousy gave me no right to attack him. I'm just trying to understand what happened between the two of you that would cause you to be so irrational when it comes to him."

"I'm irrational? He tries to kill me and I'm irrational?" ...

Adam grabbed her by the shoulders. "Kelly, stop it! Look at you! Look what you're letting him do to you. It's all over with and you still look like you could murder him..."

"You don'tt know anything!" she lashed out at him. ... "You don't know what he did to me! You don't know what he cost me!" ...

"No, I don't, but you told me it didn't matter what anyone did to you, that being angry wouldn't change anything. You said it's necessary to forgive others as God forgives us. Didn't you mean what you said, Kelly? Or doesn't it apply to you?"

Kelly turned her head, refusing to answer him.

"You said we can learn to forgive anything. Was that a lie?" When there was still no response, Adam lowered his eyes and shook his head.

"Perhaps Rosselli was right all along. Maybe you are a hypocrite."

At his last remark, something snapped in Kelly's brain. In horror she watched as her hand sprung out to strike Adam smartly across the face.

Kelly stared at the hand as if it wasn't part of her own body. She was shaking uncontrollably.

Adam gazed at her in shocked silence for several seconds, then turned abruptly - and walked out of the apartment without another word.

         The Art & Soul of Organization
         Coming soon.
         For more information,
         E-mail: brendahansen@frontiernet.net

         The Art & Soul of Organization
         Coming soon.
         For more information,
         E-mail: brendahansen@frontiernet.net

The Art & Soul Of Organization

Excerpts by bjhansen

Lesson 1: Make your bed every day!

Read Lamentations 3:15-26
Key Verse: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness." (Verses 22-23)

They say the first 15 minutes of your day will determine how the rest of it will go. To a great extent, I have found this to be true. If I oversleep, stumble out of bed, stub my toe and start complaining to the first person I see what a lousy day I'm having, there isn't going to be much that will be able to pull me out of my bad mood. Even my morning devotions will be off. I'll find myself rushing through them or making snide comments about Bible verses that tell me to rejoice in all things.

Conversely, if I take a moment or two before I get out of bed to collect my thoughts, shake off anything about the night that has troubled me, and repeat Psalm 118:24 to myself: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." I'm much more likely to maintain a positive attitude throughout the day - no matter what it may bring.

Does it always work? No, of course not. But surprisingly, I've found doing just a few simple things each day can have a major impact on pulling myself together right then and there - and keeping me that way the rest of the day when the world around me seems to be falling apart.

What kinds of routine things am I talking about? Well, the first simple thing I do is to make my bed. No matter what. Even if I'm running late. Even if I'm not feeling all that great.

Unless I intend to stay in bed all day in order to nurse some ailment, I'll get up, get dressed, make the bed, and try to eat a little breakfast before I walk out the door to face the day..

It's amazing what a difference seeing a tidied up bedroom can have on one's frame of mind. When a person tucks in those sheets, pulls up the covers, smoothes out the bedspread, and fluffs up the pillows, the mind just kind of follows along, putting all its cares and concerns for the day in order as well.

It's how I like to picture God as He begins His day: greeting the morning He's made; spreading out His compassion on His children; fixing them a delicious, nutritious breakfast; and sending them off to all sorts of new adventures.

Now, it may not seem like making the bed makes a big difference at first, especially if you're running late for work, school or a meeting. But do it anyway. Remind yourself that it only takes about 5 minutes - and if you're already late, another few mintues isn't going to put you in any worse trouble than you're in already.

Do this every day for a month and you'll find yourself feeling more 'together' when you finally do get to your deestination. That's because making your bed causes you to slow down and breathe.

Since it doesn't take a lot of gray matter to straighten up covers and fold your pajamas, it gives your brain a chance to catch up with the rest of your body.

As you put your bedroom in order, you'll find yourself thinking of other things that need to be done that day, as well. You'll remember important issues that need your attention... Items you need to add to your shopping list... Why, you may even find some articles that you misplaced the night before.

Best of all, when you come home at the end of the day, that messy bedroom won't be staring you in the face. You'll walk into a home that's a little less chaotic and a lot more welcoming. And that's just another one of those little mercies the Lord is faithful to give you each and every day.

Prayer: Lord, help me start the day with a clean slate. Put my mind in order as I straighten up the bedroom and prepare myself for a new day with You. Amen.

Action Idea: If you haven't made your bed today, go do it right now. If you've already done that, try straightening up another room. Don't worry about cleaning it or sorting through things. Just pick up the dirty clothes from the floor, pile the papers in a tidy stack on the desk, take the dirty dishes into the kitchen, and put stuff back neatly where it belongs. You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel as you start your day in an orderly frame of mind.

Lesson 20: Don't Force the Puzzle Pieces

Read John 6:1-15
Key Verse: "When Jesus therefore preceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone." (Verse 15)

Are you a puzzle person? I am. And I've noticed that many super-organized people are as well. That's probably because the same methods that puzzle people employ to put together jigsaw puzzles apply to many other areas of organization as well.

When you start a puzzle, you dump all the pieces out on a large flat surface and turn them all right side up. Then you find all the straight-edged piees and put the border together. This gives you an outline that will help you fill in the rest of the puzzle.

You check the box cover often so that you have a clear idea of what it's suppose to look like when you're done, and then you start looking for puzzle pieces that are the same color and group them together. You try not to make any assumptions about waht goes where because sometimes the puzzle pieces fool you.

Most important of all, you never, ever, try to force pieces into place. If they don't deliver that satisfying 'thunk' when you hook them together; you must leave them alone and go look for something that will fit in that space perfectly.

You must be patient. If you begin to feel frustrated or irritated, you get up, walk away and return to your project a little bit later with fresh eyes and a new perspective.

I am continually amazed at how this little trick works wonders - how many puzzle piees I can find easily after being away from the puzzle for a little while. Oh, that I would do that with other things in my life more often! But I don't.

In one of the first churches I belonged to as a young adult, I was asked to head up the Stewardship Committee. I've always been a big proponent of tithing and was told I had the gift of exhortation, so it seemed like a natural fit for me. And at first, I really enjoyed serving God in this capacity.

However, as time went on, I noticed that not many people shared the same vision I had for our tiny, newly planted church. I was preaching about giving back to God ten percent of what He had given us, but not many people on the Church Council, let alone in the congregation, concurred with my point of view.

We were a mission church for heaven's sake! I told them. We existed because other churches stepped out in faith to help us. Now it was our turn. But my exhortations to get on board the stewardship train were met with a lot of blank stares. No one even offered to help me recruit others to my cause and that irritated me. I remember targeting a couple of the elders of the church in particular, urging them to set the example. When they totally ignored me, I went to God with my complaint.

"Why aren't you making these brothers and sisters in Christ get with the program?" I demanded. "I know it's the right thing for us to do, so why doesn't everyone feel that way? And why aren't they chomping at the bit to serve on the Stewardship Committee? Why aren't you convicting the president of the congregation to be more involved with stewardship? Or the elders? Or the Pastor?"

God's answer was blunt and straight out of the Bible: "What is that to you? You follow me!" (John 21:22 - Author's paraphrase.)

You see, I had been trying to force the puzzle pieces. I knew that all these people were parts of the Body, but I had decided I knew best which pieces fit where. As a result I was trying too hard to make certain people fit into certain places. Obviously it wasn't working out very well and I sure wasn't making any friends because of it.

In the end, I had to step away for awhile to gain a new perspective. When I did finally go back, I stopped trying to coerce people into doing what I believed was the right thing and prayed for them instead. Then I started leading by example and educated them on the benefits of being a good steward. The results were much more satisfying. Slowly, but surely, the picture started to come together.

In today's scripture reading, we find Jesus feeding the multitudes with just a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread. The impact of that miracle caused some of Christ's followers to want to seize him by force and make him king. However, God had other plans.

It wasn't the right time or place for Jesus to take the throne. He simply didn't fit into the spot that human beings were trying to force Him into. So Jesus took a step back from everyone and went up into a mountain where he could be alone with his Father. This is the mark of a good organizer. He knows when things don't seem to be fitting together just right, and he needs to take some time to reconsider what his next move should be.

From his vantage point on the mountain summit, God could show his Son how the whole puzzle would fit together. From there, Jesus could see a throne in his future, but not the one his disciples saw. This would be a heavenly one attained only after his death and resurrection.

Jigsaw puzzles are a good analogy of life, I think. Each of us is part of God's big picture puzzle and each of us is designed specifically to fill a particular space. The Bible gives us an overview of what the picture is suppose to look like when it's completed, but only God knows where each piece goes.

We are all needed to complete the work of art and God works with us using a great deal of diligence and patience, moving us into just the right spot.

Our part is simply to yield ourselves to his hand.

Prayer: Lord, let me appreciate each of Your children as a unique part of Your Master Puzzle. Stop me from trying to force others into places I think are right for them and let me concentrate on yielding myself to You, instead.

Action Idea: Take a break and do a jigsaw puzzle.

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