I went to Lowe's on Saturday AM to get some stuff to hang a shelf. Wall hooks, screws, things like that. To get at the heart of what actually happened, there's something about me you should know.
I hated high school. It wasn't fun for me. There were fun times, but high school was a bad time for me overall. I never felt like I fit in. I was in some sort of weird pocket of existance. Not popular enough to ever really be included, but at least popular enough to not have to take the brunt of public humiliation. That was Tricia's job...
Trica was a girl with some issues. Not particularly attractive. Very bad speech problems. She always had something in her mouth to make her sound twice as challenged as she was. She was in special ed. classes as long as I knew her. Tricia grew up a few doors down from me. There were days (as much as I tried to avoid them) that she would include herself in our re-enactments of the Dukes of Hazzard or Star Wars. As a younger kid, there was little I wouldn't do to get around talking with her...that was an hour long investment.
She was also the girl that some guys on the bus tricked her into eating large amounts of Ex-Lax. I remember seeing her walk out of the washroom at school that day after she had most likely spent most of her day to that point uncomfortably in that room.
So, as I walked toward the check out at Lowe's last Saturday. There she was. Walking to the same line. I don't think she recognized me, but I could never forget her. It's not surprising that she'd TRY to forget everyone she went to school with, and I'm probably no exception. She was right behind me. I felt my ears get hot (which happens when I get nervous or embarassed)...kinda like they are as I write this...
All I would've had to say was "Hi, Tricia. It's been a long time. How are things going for you?" Spend an extra 5 minutes and go hang the shelf.
But I didn't. I knew I should, but I didn't. Then I left and nearly cried. I had an opportunity to, on a very very small scale, make something right about this part of my past.
But I didn't...I knew I was being asked to...
...but I didn't
Monday, October 30, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
One way to look at it...
The sad thing is that there's a good chance that there are people seeing this that actually AGREE with this guy.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
the joys of fatherhood
A story...
The boy's ever growing vocabulary now includes the word "poop." Although when he says it, it often rhymes with the word 'good.' He's now telling us that he has indeed pooped whenever he does it. He also tells us he pooped when he fact peed.
It's not an uncommon occurance to be doing something else and have him say, 'I poop.' So, the conversation goes this way:
"Daaaah Daaaah."
"Bucka bear?"
"I poop."
"Did you poop? Should daddy smell?"
"Uh huh."
(daddy doesn't smell poop at this point) "I think you're good. Can you play with toys?"
"Uh huh." And he runs away.
Last night was a particularly interesting conversation:
Boy runs into the dining room. "I poop"
Mommy- "Did you poop?" "Uh huh," he responds. Mommy then smells...no poop. "Did you pee?"
"Uh huh."
"Can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Daddy- "can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Mommy- "Can you say (p)?" Boy makes the sound of the letter p. "Can you say (ee)" Boy says eee. "Now can you say pee?"
"Uh huh," he says. "Okay, buddy, can you say pee?"
"I poop."
...at least he's telling us something, right?
The boy's ever growing vocabulary now includes the word "poop." Although when he says it, it often rhymes with the word 'good.' He's now telling us that he has indeed pooped whenever he does it. He also tells us he pooped when he fact peed.
It's not an uncommon occurance to be doing something else and have him say, 'I poop.' So, the conversation goes this way:
"Daaaah Daaaah."
"Bucka bear?"
"I poop."
"Did you poop? Should daddy smell?"
"Uh huh."
(daddy doesn't smell poop at this point) "I think you're good. Can you play with toys?"
"Uh huh." And he runs away.
Last night was a particularly interesting conversation:
Boy runs into the dining room. "I poop"
Mommy- "Did you poop?" "Uh huh," he responds. Mommy then smells...no poop. "Did you pee?"
"Uh huh."
"Can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Daddy- "can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Mommy- "Can you say (p)?" Boy makes the sound of the letter p. "Can you say (ee)" Boy says eee. "Now can you say pee?"
"Uh huh," he says. "Okay, buddy, can you say pee?"
"I poop."
...at least he's telling us something, right?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
I'd like to introduce you to my friend Brennan
So, he's not really my friend, but I am reading one of his books right now. Brennan Manning, who actually used to be a Franciscan monk, it one of the guys I love to read. He just gets it, and I love being around folks that 'just get it.'
In his book, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, the first chapter is titled 'Healing our Image of God and Ourselves,' and he writes this:
"For a disciple of Jesus, the process of spiritual growth is a gradual repudiation of the unreal image of God, [rather it is] the increasing openness to the true and living God. In my life, obeying the First Commandment-'I am Yahweh, your God and you shall have no other gods before me' has meant repudiating the god of wrath and fear handed on to me by preachers, teachers, and other church authoritiesin my youth, repudiating the strange god who sees all heathens to hell, who has give any one denomination a bonded franchise for salvation, who rubs his hands together with malicious glee and sends a Catholic to hell becasue he ate a hot dog on Friday, April 27, 1949. It has meant repudiating the strange god who flinches at gracing other churches with his presence; who despises beleaguered couple who practice birth control; who forbids a divorcee the Eucharist; who ordains that some of his creatures (whether for race or creed or some other reason) shall be denied equal opportunity for employement or housing; who tells married Catholic priests that they are excommunicated and mature women that in America that they can be vice-president but in the church they must sit down, submit and shut up."
Rock on with your bad self Brennan...
In his book, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, the first chapter is titled 'Healing our Image of God and Ourselves,' and he writes this:
"For a disciple of Jesus, the process of spiritual growth is a gradual repudiation of the unreal image of God, [rather it is] the increasing openness to the true and living God. In my life, obeying the First Commandment-'I am Yahweh, your God and you shall have no other gods before me' has meant repudiating the god of wrath and fear handed on to me by preachers, teachers, and other church authoritiesin my youth, repudiating the strange god who sees all heathens to hell, who has give any one denomination a bonded franchise for salvation, who rubs his hands together with malicious glee and sends a Catholic to hell becasue he ate a hot dog on Friday, April 27, 1949. It has meant repudiating the strange god who flinches at gracing other churches with his presence; who despises beleaguered couple who practice birth control; who forbids a divorcee the Eucharist; who ordains that some of his creatures (whether for race or creed or some other reason) shall be denied equal opportunity for employement or housing; who tells married Catholic priests that they are excommunicated and mature women that in America that they can be vice-president but in the church they must sit down, submit and shut up."
Rock on with your bad self Brennan...
Monday, October 23, 2006
Quick Question
I rarely do this, but I want to pose a question...
In a July article in the New York Times, Karell Roxas (a senior editor at gURL.com) says this:
"[Slut] is definately a term of familiarity with teens. They'll say 'Hi, slut' the way my generation would say 'Hi, chick' or 'Hi, dawg."
This idea is given support by Atoosa Rubenstien of Seventeen Magazine:
"Today slut, even ho, is used by girls in a positive way."
Apparently, slut is making the transition that pimp has already made.
Seriously?
Or am I too old fashioned...
...at 29...
In a July article in the New York Times, Karell Roxas (a senior editor at gURL.com) says this:
"[Slut] is definately a term of familiarity with teens. They'll say 'Hi, slut' the way my generation would say 'Hi, chick' or 'Hi, dawg."
This idea is given support by Atoosa Rubenstien of Seventeen Magazine:
"Today slut, even ho, is used by girls in a positive way."
Apparently, slut is making the transition that pimp has already made.
Seriously?
Or am I too old fashioned...
...at 29...
For the 1st time
I shook the hand of a person who was older than 100 years. This young lady was born in 1906! It blew my mind. Oh, the changes she's seen in those 100 years. My guess is that the technological advances in this past 100 years is far greater than the previous 100. Shoot, I'm 30 (almost) and I've seen some crazy stuff already...
Admittedly, I'm usually akward around elderly folks. Yesterday was no different. I feel like they can see through my handshakes and smiles revealing a person who is pretty uncomfortable. They probably can't, but I feel like they can.
The 4th Sunday of every other month, St. Mark's is slated to provide worship for the folks at the Heritage nursing center. In a pinch, I volunteered to help our music minister. Our normal group wasn't able to make it and it fell to him. Actually, there's a group of high schoolers that do it normally, so I felt like I should pitch in.
There is a song in their song books there. It's one of my favorites. After yesterday, it means a little more. It's called Brighten the Corner Where You Are. To talk and sing and share with folks who are shells of who they once were is a powerful thing. To hear them singing 'brighten the corner where you are,' knowing that even though they were 80, 90, or even 100 years old, stamped into my brain that Jesus was still important to them and that God still had a job for them.
It's one of the things I love about ministry...
...you pour yourself out, thinking you're doing something for someone, and it turns out that God touches you...
Admittedly, I'm usually akward around elderly folks. Yesterday was no different. I feel like they can see through my handshakes and smiles revealing a person who is pretty uncomfortable. They probably can't, but I feel like they can.
The 4th Sunday of every other month, St. Mark's is slated to provide worship for the folks at the Heritage nursing center. In a pinch, I volunteered to help our music minister. Our normal group wasn't able to make it and it fell to him. Actually, there's a group of high schoolers that do it normally, so I felt like I should pitch in.
There is a song in their song books there. It's one of my favorites. After yesterday, it means a little more. It's called Brighten the Corner Where You Are. To talk and sing and share with folks who are shells of who they once were is a powerful thing. To hear them singing 'brighten the corner where you are,' knowing that even though they were 80, 90, or even 100 years old, stamped into my brain that Jesus was still important to them and that God still had a job for them.
It's one of the things I love about ministry...
...you pour yourself out, thinking you're doing something for someone, and it turns out that God touches you...
Saturday, October 21, 2006
these are the times...
...that try the souls of folks in ministry...
I know that there are things I could do that would 'pack the gym,' but that's not good enough for me. I would know that it would only be to protray health.
I want things to be healthy, and there's no shortcuts on the way there...
...and the kids are far too important...
I know that there are things I could do that would 'pack the gym,' but that's not good enough for me. I would know that it would only be to protray health.
I want things to be healthy, and there's no shortcuts on the way there...
...and the kids are far too important...
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Oh I hope...
...that the powers that be here at church allow me to purchase a new MacBook.
I'm tired of my triceratops of a computer.
All those offering their well wishes and quick quips to answer the 'it'll never work on our network' are welcome...
I'm tired of my triceratops of a computer.
All those offering their well wishes and quick quips to answer the 'it'll never work on our network' are welcome...
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Pimpin' ain't easy
As I sat sipping a warm beverage at George House yesterday, I glanced out the front window. To my surprise I saw a Ford Windstar with spinner rims on it. My guess is that the owner spent some serious coin on the spinners. Not really...
Can you imagine the conversation that surrounds a decision to put spinners on a minivan?
Needless to say, I want a minivan now. Spinners just wouldn't look as cool on my Lancer.
Don't know if you read this, but thanks Lacie for introducing me to Jesus Camp. I was mortified. Seriously. I'm not sure what's going on there, but I would guess that there isn't much more than teaching kids how to scare the hell out of people.
I most often advocate the kind of things that Jesus did, like love people and stuff. You know, spending time and investing myself into people? Jesus was very patient with folks.
Not so much with the people who didn't get it and were supposed to. Like church leaders that don't get it...but I digress...
Project Runway Finale tonight! I wanna see Jeffrey's stuff, and I don't think he cheated. Take that Cruella deLaura.
Can you imagine the conversation that surrounds a decision to put spinners on a minivan?
Needless to say, I want a minivan now. Spinners just wouldn't look as cool on my Lancer.
Don't know if you read this, but thanks Lacie for introducing me to Jesus Camp. I was mortified. Seriously. I'm not sure what's going on there, but I would guess that there isn't much more than teaching kids how to scare the hell out of people.
I most often advocate the kind of things that Jesus did, like love people and stuff. You know, spending time and investing myself into people? Jesus was very patient with folks.
Not so much with the people who didn't get it and were supposed to. Like church leaders that don't get it...but I digress...
Project Runway Finale tonight! I wanna see Jeffrey's stuff, and I don't think he cheated. Take that Cruella deLaura.
Monday, October 16, 2006
I love to tell the story
Had lunch with a high school buddy and his wife after worship. It was cool.
The boy has recently learned that dipping things is tasty. His first favorite was ketchup. He started with fries and then moved onto his fingers and just ate the ketchup.
Yesterday, the four of us got to watch him dip everything into his applesauce. Fries, fingers and, yes, the grilled cheese.
Mom and Dad (especially Dad) we so proud...
Another Sunday...but not just another Sunday. It was laity Sunday and once a year, the ministry staff doesn't have much to do for the worship services. We basically get to participate, which is a great thing. Instead of a 'sermon' (I really despise that term by the way), folks who are serving in the church give a 'testimony' (another term that sits funny with me) about how God led them to St.Marks (and yes, there really is no apostrophe) and how their lives have been since coming.
It really is a time for people to tell God's story of activity in their life. And it was awesome...
There's not near enough of it happening in the context of worship, and there's no good reason why.
My take? Telling the story of God's activity causes us to worship. It allows us to hear and see the truth of God's love and grace and, actually, existance. It causes us to examine our own lives and see where God is being active...even to the point we might tell others, inside and outside the church. People may actually come to worship to, well, worship; which is just a word to label our saying 'thanks' to God and to make sure that we tell God how cool He is.
And we'd want to be telling God these things. Maybe even telling others these things...
The flip side is just as important. There's often times that our stories include hurt, stress, confusion, or doubt. Not one is immune to these feelings. Even Jesus freaked a little bit in Gethsemane. When people tell this part of their story it helps another body function...walking together through the deserts of life. We weren't wired to go at things alone.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Matt. Matt's a middle schooler that has some challenges. Honestly, if you didn't know him, you may think he has some developmental delays. Socially doesn't always get it either. But, Matt has said some of the most insightful things that this blogger has ever heard. Yesterday, we sang a song during worship. It had a very heavy waltz-like rhythm. 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3...you get the idea.
I looked over and caught a glimpse of Matt. He swayed back and forth with the music in his Matt sort of way...very akward, kinda goofy, eyes strangely rolled in his head, mouth wide open and it was the most beautiful thing. It was so pure and honest. I can still see him...
awesome, just awesome...
The boy has recently learned that dipping things is tasty. His first favorite was ketchup. He started with fries and then moved onto his fingers and just ate the ketchup.
Yesterday, the four of us got to watch him dip everything into his applesauce. Fries, fingers and, yes, the grilled cheese.
Mom and Dad (especially Dad) we so proud...
Another Sunday...but not just another Sunday. It was laity Sunday and once a year, the ministry staff doesn't have much to do for the worship services. We basically get to participate, which is a great thing. Instead of a 'sermon' (I really despise that term by the way), folks who are serving in the church give a 'testimony' (another term that sits funny with me) about how God led them to St.Marks (and yes, there really is no apostrophe) and how their lives have been since coming.
It really is a time for people to tell God's story of activity in their life. And it was awesome...
There's not near enough of it happening in the context of worship, and there's no good reason why.
My take? Telling the story of God's activity causes us to worship. It allows us to hear and see the truth of God's love and grace and, actually, existance. It causes us to examine our own lives and see where God is being active...even to the point we might tell others, inside and outside the church. People may actually come to worship to, well, worship; which is just a word to label our saying 'thanks' to God and to make sure that we tell God how cool He is.
And we'd want to be telling God these things. Maybe even telling others these things...
The flip side is just as important. There's often times that our stories include hurt, stress, confusion, or doubt. Not one is immune to these feelings. Even Jesus freaked a little bit in Gethsemane. When people tell this part of their story it helps another body function...walking together through the deserts of life. We weren't wired to go at things alone.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Matt. Matt's a middle schooler that has some challenges. Honestly, if you didn't know him, you may think he has some developmental delays. Socially doesn't always get it either. But, Matt has said some of the most insightful things that this blogger has ever heard. Yesterday, we sang a song during worship. It had a very heavy waltz-like rhythm. 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3...you get the idea.
I looked over and caught a glimpse of Matt. He swayed back and forth with the music in his Matt sort of way...very akward, kinda goofy, eyes strangely rolled in his head, mouth wide open and it was the most beautiful thing. It was so pure and honest. I can still see him...
awesome, just awesome...
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The Year of Jubilee
Remember a few years ago when Bono (and others) pushed for world debt relief? Well, Bono is still pushing for it, and rightly so. This idea of debt relief was part of a bigger picture of the Hebrew year of Jubilee. It's all in Leviticus 25, read it if you never have...I guess you don't have to, but it is cool.
As I have studied the Lord's Prayer over the past few weeks, I came to this peculiar line about forgiving others. Jesus teaches us about forgiveness in many ways. In Matt 18, he teaches the parable of the unforgiving servant. A parable about forgiveness using a situation that was financially motivated. Which led me to read more about the Year of Jubilee. There are teachings there about land returning to it's original owner, freeing workers that were working to pay off debts, and how to decide on fair prices for land among other things. It's a very descriptive and thorough explanation. The real tragedy is that there's no conclusive evidence that it ever happened the way God layed it out.
To me though, it looks like an effort on God's part to make sure that we remember that the whole world is really God's and that we don't become so indebted to each other that those debts outweigh our 'indebtedness' to God. After all, no one is to during the Year of Jubilee either. God promises a bounty from the previous year that will supply the needs of the year everyone takes off!
Steering the car back onto the road...we get the whole debt thing, right? As in, most of us have some? And so it seems that relieving our indebtedness to each other begets a special kind of freedom; almost a restoration to an orginal form of living and a truer sense of what life is. As we show the same kind of mercy toward others that God has shown us we start to become the citizens of God's kingdom. In fact, Jesus starts this whole story with the familiar, "The Kingdom of God is like..."
Forgiveness isn't about living forgiven...is probably more about living together.
The beauty of the picture of the Year of Jubilee is just that. It's not the nuts and bolts of debt relief and real estate returned. It's the picture that I start to see in my mind of how we might be able to live together as a result of the living out of Jubilee. It's not about the fact that we don't have to pay our money to our debtors. It's about the freedom of being debt-free.
This is another time when I am sure that God isn't just fire insurance. I know that God's way is a step up from the normal that we find ourselves in. Oh, and by the way,
Jesus died and was resurrected during a Jubilee year...
As I have studied the Lord's Prayer over the past few weeks, I came to this peculiar line about forgiving others. Jesus teaches us about forgiveness in many ways. In Matt 18, he teaches the parable of the unforgiving servant. A parable about forgiveness using a situation that was financially motivated. Which led me to read more about the Year of Jubilee. There are teachings there about land returning to it's original owner, freeing workers that were working to pay off debts, and how to decide on fair prices for land among other things. It's a very descriptive and thorough explanation. The real tragedy is that there's no conclusive evidence that it ever happened the way God layed it out.
To me though, it looks like an effort on God's part to make sure that we remember that the whole world is really God's and that we don't become so indebted to each other that those debts outweigh our 'indebtedness' to God. After all, no one is to during the Year of Jubilee either. God promises a bounty from the previous year that will supply the needs of the year everyone takes off!
Steering the car back onto the road...we get the whole debt thing, right? As in, most of us have some? And so it seems that relieving our indebtedness to each other begets a special kind of freedom; almost a restoration to an orginal form of living and a truer sense of what life is. As we show the same kind of mercy toward others that God has shown us we start to become the citizens of God's kingdom. In fact, Jesus starts this whole story with the familiar, "The Kingdom of God is like..."
Forgiveness isn't about living forgiven...is probably more about living together.
The beauty of the picture of the Year of Jubilee is just that. It's not the nuts and bolts of debt relief and real estate returned. It's the picture that I start to see in my mind of how we might be able to live together as a result of the living out of Jubilee. It's not about the fact that we don't have to pay our money to our debtors. It's about the freedom of being debt-free.
This is another time when I am sure that God isn't just fire insurance. I know that God's way is a step up from the normal that we find ourselves in. Oh, and by the way,
Jesus died and was resurrected during a Jubilee year...
The boy takes a pooh (and leaves it)
It's not very often that I end up with a free evening, but after flying solo for yet another meeting, I headed home. Home in time to go to Wal-mart with the family. So, it was me, wife and boy on a scavenger hunt at the new Wal-Mart in town (that's 2 here now in case you're keeping score).
I think many of you know that the boy is using more words now and can talk in sentances if he wants to. This is a cool thing, however the not cool thing is that he expects you to listen and respond to everything. And as you could probably guess, we grow somewhat tired of hearing 'Da da (or mama), I boom!' 461 times in a row. So after a short time in Wal-mart, we were trying to occupy him with stuff so he wouldn't go crazy for us not responding to him every time.
He also loaded our cart up with 5 extra toothbrushes and 3 tubes of toothpaste...just trying to helpful.
So, we made our way back to the baby section...someone's out of his highchair and now get to sit in a booster. By now, he's starting to go nuts, and A. has a 'great' idea...give him a toy from the shelf for him to play with and then tell him that he needs to leave it behind for next time when it's time to go. Her choice? A soft Winnie the Pooh bear that's as big as the boy. He sees it, and then begins to hug it and give it kisses, all the time saying 'Eyeunn Pooh!' (translation I want Pooh)
A.'s reaction? Oh crap, he's never gonna put that thing back...
Mine? He can say Pooh?
By now I am really impressed that the boy can say Pooh when referring to the bear. He's actually been able to say poop for some time now and daddy's so proud. I am so impressed I'm ready to buy the bear for him, while A. (the smarter one of the two of us) is urging the boy let go of Pooh. I'm oblivious...
Needless to say, leaving Pooh behind was quite an ordeal and the few parents that were back there in the section with us had a good time at our expense. Well, A.'s actually...she looked at me and said, 'I take full responsibility for this.'
Eyeunn Pooh...I can still hear him saying it over and over again. Oh and just in case you're wondering, we did find him something to play with that he could take home...
...a gallon of skim milk...
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
ideas on tolerance
Today I find myself struck by the ways in which Christians are viewed/portrayed by the writers of some mainstream television shows. Most folks are viewing (as evidenced by the writing) Christians as ultra-conservative, insensative phrase using, condesending, judgemental, holier-than-thous. Let me start by saying a few things...
First, most Christians today, at least the ones with voices in the mainstream aren't really doing anything to bust the stereotype. I think it might be because the backlash is the sort of 'persecution' Jesus talks about in Matthew 5. Anyone can turn on the 700 club or any number to TV preachers to get enough ammo in their gun. In fact, if you have the time search 'God Stuff' or 'This Week in God' on You Tube and you'll see all the stuff that 'Christians' do to give such a bad taste to folks.
Second, it is nothing less than frustrating that I, as a Christian (a 'pastor' no less) that I get to be painted with that brush. Woo frickin' Hoo, I say. So, the loud voices of the minority of Christians need to use their voice to start entering into some dialogue with others in the church, and quit using it to tell us who's going to Hell for reading the Da Vinci Code or how soon I'll be into guys by watching SpongeBob or playing with a purple Teletubbie. I send out a resounding 'thanks for that.'
Third, I am a Christian, and I am painted with all sorts of brushes. So, I feel compelled to say something I think is very important in the conversation. I'm sorry. I apologize to all the folks that have a serious problem with the way some evangelists do their thing. I apologize on their behalf. Oh, and if you have disagreed with most of what I've said to this point...spare me the "Jesus used harsh language, so we should too" crap. The truth is that the vast majority of the time HE WAS TALKING TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE DAY and not the 'so-called' heathens when using that particular lexicon. Jesus' harshest words came out against those who were supposed to be getting it and they weren't.
So, again, I'm sorry. I know it isn't much, but it's a start...
One last thing though, all the folks on the tolerance band wagon as in, 'the Christians don't have any of it.' (tolerance that is) Maybe you all could do a little better job tolerating the views of the percieved 'wack-jobs' and try to enter some sort of conversation with those folks just like you have said you have with the Bhuddist, Hindu, Muslim, homosexual, atheist, white-collar criminals etc. Maybe it isn't fair to put a characture of a personality type on a television show just to prove a point.
It's not quite fair to put that picture of Christians at their worst against people at their average...maybe even their best. If you wanted to be fair, perhaps a worst versus worst would illicit a more accurate picture...
...but that's not always the best TV now is it...
Monday, October 09, 2006
Good News...
...I spent way too much time finding video on you tube last week. But it inspires me to share a few of my favorite things.
- SNL- Mr. Peepers and Alec Baldwin as Pete Schweaty.
- Blue Man Group...they ROCK!
- I heart all forms of Super Mario Brothers
- Tecmo Bowl
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
I know, I'm such a dude.
or try this one, I like it a little better
Five02 is still kicking and that's a good thing.
So, I'm learning all the time. I hope I never stop...
...but that's kinda up to me, right?
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Enough is enough
and no, I'm not fed up with anything in particular today...
in fact, the opposite is true. It's been a good day so far. Coffee Amici, a bike ride, and a good book...other recent highlights:
in fact, the opposite is true. It's been a good day so far. Coffee Amici, a bike ride, and a good book...other recent highlights:
- getting a free preview on DISH that allows us Bravo so, we WILL be seeing the finale of Project Runway (woo frickin' hoo)
- me and the boy's first bike ride together--reports are that both of us loved it
- sesame sticks, sesame stick, sesame sticks
- another trip to the thai restaraunt, Satang Thai Cuisine on Tiffin...go spend your money there and keep them open; first trip to Maria's Taco on N Main...it's Chipotle without the price tag (again I say woo frickin hoo, baby)--12" soft taco...yum
- nearly done with my book and it's been a great read. well worth the time...'Everybody Wants to go to Heaven, But No One Wants to Die' by David Crowder
And about this 'getting ahead' business. I think it's fair to say that it is a tremedously overused phrase and futhermore the concept is greviously over-appreciated. It's just that people say it when they feel behind. So, I find myself completely identifying with the author of this snippet of Proverbs when he says that he'll forget about God if he has too much; and I'm far too much of a wuss to rob someone...so there's that too...in any case, I think the feeling I deal with is not so much about conentment, but knowing when I have enough.
Can I also say that money helps/make people do some crazy poo? (I guess I just did; so no permission needed) So then, am I saying that rich people will not enjoy the comforts of heaven? Ummm..no, not really even close. The fact of life (and capitalism) is that some people will have money and stuff than others. I am saying that extreme tight-fistedness and disregard for human need is in fact an issue. Sort of a 'to whom more is given, more is required' line of thinking if you will.
Here's the thing for me today...there is a difference between feeling 'secure' and feeling 'blessed'. Understanding one's being blessed illicts a certain kind of security, that's true. Shouldn't there be though a measure of faith in our dealings? I think that's (in some way) the proverbs guy is saying; that if there's no measure of faith in us understanding God's provision in our lives, then why even bother thanking God for it? Moreover, I've heard people talk about how blessed they are when what they're really saying is 'I'm rubber-stamping the Heavenly Wal-Mart smiley face on my situation to make you think I more humble than I really am.'
(please pardon the broad, sweeping generalizations here, but I think you know what I'm saying)
What am I saying exactly? A life rich of God's blessing isn't always a secure one. Security wasn't promised to us, but God does, in fact, lavish His love and grace and mercy and faithfulness and provision on us. And a life of enough allows us to feel God's blessings and still require the measure of faith that keeps the cycle going; it allows us to see God at work in our lives and in the lives of others...
...and there's no better blessing than that...
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
and from the news of the weird desk...
...Poisoned Pigeons Fall from the Sky in Texarkana
read it, but only if you want to...
I've been wrestling with the idea of what it is to live with enough. Not too much, not too little. Proverbs 30:8-9 states (in a nutshell) if I have too much, then I'll tend to forget God and if I have too little, then I might steal and dishonor God; just give me my daily bread. I know the conversations in my house often revolved around getting ahead, as in when are we going to... and unless I write a great book or something, chances are it's not going to happen anytime soon. Or at the very least, our idea of what getting ahead won't be happening anytime soon.
I have a good friend (also in ministry) that says that we're always trying to work ourselves out of a job...and he's right. This fact doesn't bode well for me and the wife's plan either.
Here's the thing that often kicks me in the pants: we do in fact have enough now. Not only that, if so many of our dollars weren't committed otherwise we might have more than enough. I feel so blessed that God provides despite our decisions which in some way inspires me to make better ones, while at the same time it urges parts of me toward complacency...knowing that God is good and wants bless us.
'So then, should we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Certainly not.' Once again. Paul, you're right...
...when I find out what all this means to me, that'll be a good thing...
...at the very least, I'll be able to teach on it for Saturday night...
read it, but only if you want to...
I've been wrestling with the idea of what it is to live with enough. Not too much, not too little. Proverbs 30:8-9 states (in a nutshell) if I have too much, then I'll tend to forget God and if I have too little, then I might steal and dishonor God; just give me my daily bread. I know the conversations in my house often revolved around getting ahead, as in when are we going to... and unless I write a great book or something, chances are it's not going to happen anytime soon. Or at the very least, our idea of what getting ahead won't be happening anytime soon.
I have a good friend (also in ministry) that says that we're always trying to work ourselves out of a job...and he's right. This fact doesn't bode well for me and the wife's plan either.
Here's the thing that often kicks me in the pants: we do in fact have enough now. Not only that, if so many of our dollars weren't committed otherwise we might have more than enough. I feel so blessed that God provides despite our decisions which in some way inspires me to make better ones, while at the same time it urges parts of me toward complacency...knowing that God is good and wants bless us.
'So then, should we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Certainly not.' Once again. Paul, you're right...
...when I find out what all this means to me, that'll be a good thing...
...at the very least, I'll be able to teach on it for Saturday night...
Monday, October 02, 2006
Sunday, October 01, 2006
I love it when..
...profound truth comes at you in an unexpected package.
And it happened today in Sunday School.
We were talking about gaining perspective on how God views our wants and needs. We watched Rob Bell's nooma video entitled 'kickball.' The long and short of it is a story about him and his son at the mall. His 2 1/2 year old son sees something at one of those kisoks in the walkway that he 'needs.' It's a ball on an elastic string that one attaches to their wrist and can throw and catch in the same motion. The boy is told no, and procedes to melt down.
Meanwhile, Rob (as if we're on a first name basis :)) had planned the whole time to take his son across the street to purchase a brand new kickball. His son, overjoyed, picked one out...I think you see the point.
Upon a discussion about our own ability to see past our own situations, a couple of the teens in the class started talking about how their marching band instructors are always on them to make sure that even if it seems that band members are in (or out) of position, that they must keep the whole picture in mind and trust that their director has them in the right spot for the whole picture to make sense.
Clearly, those folks got it...
...and so did the folks listening to them.
who am I kidding, I got it just a little better too...
And it happened today in Sunday School.
We were talking about gaining perspective on how God views our wants and needs. We watched Rob Bell's nooma video entitled 'kickball.' The long and short of it is a story about him and his son at the mall. His 2 1/2 year old son sees something at one of those kisoks in the walkway that he 'needs.' It's a ball on an elastic string that one attaches to their wrist and can throw and catch in the same motion. The boy is told no, and procedes to melt down.
Meanwhile, Rob (as if we're on a first name basis :)) had planned the whole time to take his son across the street to purchase a brand new kickball. His son, overjoyed, picked one out...I think you see the point.
Upon a discussion about our own ability to see past our own situations, a couple of the teens in the class started talking about how their marching band instructors are always on them to make sure that even if it seems that band members are in (or out) of position, that they must keep the whole picture in mind and trust that their director has them in the right spot for the whole picture to make sense.
Clearly, those folks got it...
...and so did the folks listening to them.
who am I kidding, I got it just a little better too...
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