Today is my mom's birthday. She's 39. Don't try to do the math if you know how old I am because it won't work. My mom loves celebrating her birthday and it's often a 3-4 week process with all the lunches and dinners with friends. Just between you and me, she's seen more than 39 birthdays and quite a bit of interesting history in her day. I've listened to stories of growing up on the farm and it seems so far removed from the life I have grown up with. While I'm thankful for conveniences like a bathroom with running water, there are some things about growing up on the farm that I think would be good for people today because I see how it shaped that generation in positive ways. I suppose every generations has their strengths and weaknesses and maybe we'll see that my generation and future generations have much to offer the future just like my parent's generation has offered us.
On this day, I hope my mom's day is filled with good wishes, good friends, good food and a Snickers bar. I love you mom!
Grace and peace to you.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Where Are You Taking Me?
I've got the writing blah's this week.
I ask God to lead me and then, when he does, I feel like asking "are you sure you want me to do this?" I like being led where I want to go but I don't get a big charge out of being led where I don't want to go. I realize that thinking can land me in the belly of a big fish though so I'm trying to accept what God is calling me to do and to be willing to do it.
I would seek your prayers that I will answer the call and that I will say the things and do the things that come from God working through me.
Grace and peace to you.
I ask God to lead me and then, when he does, I feel like asking "are you sure you want me to do this?" I like being led where I want to go but I don't get a big charge out of being led where I don't want to go. I realize that thinking can land me in the belly of a big fish though so I'm trying to accept what God is calling me to do and to be willing to do it.
I would seek your prayers that I will answer the call and that I will say the things and do the things that come from God working through me.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Preach It
Yesterday, I heard one of the most powerful sermons I've heard in a long time. The power wasn't in the presentation style nor in the energy or tone of the preacher, the power was in the message he delivered. One point he made really stuck with me throughout the day that just kept me feeling good all day. Most of us have heard (and can quote) Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and that is where the recitation usually ends. But, and this but is big, while it's the end of the verse, it is not the end of the sentence. Verse 24 continues the thought, "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." [emphasis mine}
He gave freely.
Grace and peace to you.
He gave freely.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Lady GaGa
I saw Lady Gaga on GMA Thursday morning promoting her AIDS/HIV prevention efforts. She has created a line of cosmetics with ALL the proceeds going to help prevent this horrible disease. I applaud her for her generosity and willingness to be an activist to help eliminate a horrible disease. I can only wish that her efforts were targeted at abstinence and Godliness instead of safe sex.
As I listened to her talk, it seemed evident that she has been searching for what is missing in her life and she identifies it as "self-love" and "finding the inner light". I wonder how powerful it could be if someone of her stature and promotion ability was sharing a message of the love of God and allowing His light to shine from within to all of her fans. Today, I am saying a prayer for Gaga and the hope that God will be able to reach her and to touch her heart with His love, joy and desire for her.
From Gaga to baseball - I'll be in Bowie soaking in the sun and watching Decatur Eagles baseball this Saturday. I'm excited to have another season going and watching my son and his friends play. My daughter is escaping baseball by participating in a UIL competition and I know she will rock 'em too! And, it will be time to see Michael Young, smiling and talking about what the upcoming season will be like and how he doesn't want to be a distraction even though all the questions lead to the distraction he has caused. Oh well, it's baseball. Cut, green grass. Sunshine. Close plays at home. Homeruns, fireworks and fly-overs. Play ball!
May the Lord who created the world, who designed the seas, who created the volcanoes, who built the mountains and put each grain of sand on the beach, may He be praised and glorified in my life today because the One who created all also created, loves, nurtures and cares for me.
Grace and peace to you.
As I listened to her talk, it seemed evident that she has been searching for what is missing in her life and she identifies it as "self-love" and "finding the inner light". I wonder how powerful it could be if someone of her stature and promotion ability was sharing a message of the love of God and allowing His light to shine from within to all of her fans. Today, I am saying a prayer for Gaga and the hope that God will be able to reach her and to touch her heart with His love, joy and desire for her.
From Gaga to baseball - I'll be in Bowie soaking in the sun and watching Decatur Eagles baseball this Saturday. I'm excited to have another season going and watching my son and his friends play. My daughter is escaping baseball by participating in a UIL competition and I know she will rock 'em too! And, it will be time to see Michael Young, smiling and talking about what the upcoming season will be like and how he doesn't want to be a distraction even though all the questions lead to the distraction he has caused. Oh well, it's baseball. Cut, green grass. Sunshine. Close plays at home. Homeruns, fireworks and fly-overs. Play ball!
May the Lord who created the world, who designed the seas, who created the volcanoes, who built the mountains and put each grain of sand on the beach, may He be praised and glorified in my life today because the One who created all also created, loves, nurtures and cares for me.
Grace and peace to you.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A Good Start
Wednesday was the kick-off day for our workplace Bible study using the book Crazy Love. Yes, you know I love Crazy Love and I'm excited to begin a study around the ideas offered by Francis Chan in this book. The first class was an introduction of the book idea, my approach to getting through it and to me. Several of the people in the study know something about me but I went back deeper in my history than usual and walked them through my growing up and how I got to this point in life and why this book has helped me know God so much better than I think I would have done on my own. I got some positive feedback from a few of the participants and am thankful my prayer all morning worked - simply that God would make me a conduit of the words He wanted everyone to hear.
Here's something that crossed my mind the other day. Who's more concerned with sin; God or me? Who's more concerned with living out of love; God or me? I think God is more interested in seeing me live a life of love than He is concerned with me sinning. I'm caught up in 1 John 4 saying that "perfect love drives out fear." I can't get this verse out of my head because I want to live in God's perfect love and I want to be a man who shares God's perfect love with everyone I come in contact with. I'm not there yet but pray that I will be one day.
God, work on my heart, work in my heart and work through my heart. Make me a light shining brightly, eliminating darkness and reflecting the glory of your majesty.
Grace and peace to you.
Here's something that crossed my mind the other day. Who's more concerned with sin; God or me? Who's more concerned with living out of love; God or me? I think God is more interested in seeing me live a life of love than He is concerned with me sinning. I'm caught up in 1 John 4 saying that "perfect love drives out fear." I can't get this verse out of my head because I want to live in God's perfect love and I want to be a man who shares God's perfect love with everyone I come in contact with. I'm not there yet but pray that I will be one day.
God, work on my heart, work in my heart and work through my heart. Make me a light shining brightly, eliminating darkness and reflecting the glory of your majesty.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Grammy Whammy
Did you watch the Grammy's on Sunday night? I had the TV on for the last 20 minutes or so waiting on the news and was flabbergasted, yes flabbergasted, by some of the dancing I saw.
If you are looking for a good blog to read, check out http://texastoothcarpenter.blogspot.com and http://rross.blogspot.com. These are two very good friends of mine and they say some things that would benefit a lot of people to think about.
I've been asked to be a guest writer for another friend's blog.
For the past 8 years or so I've been a columnist for two different western industry publications writing about business, management, leadership and operations. The crazy part is that I got paid to do it! Ha. I had the lofty title of Business Editor at the last gig but gave it up this year because I can only write so much it seems and because it's time to scale back. Even as I say I need to scale back, I'm contemplating taking on another big, time-consuming adventure. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment.
This is one of those days were I'm sort of dry as far as writing so I am filling space with yak-yak. Yep, yak-yak. Use that in Words With Friends and see what kind of response you get.
I have changed my musical choices to the point that at least 85% of what I listen to is Christian-themed music. Don't think I'm patting myself on the back because I still slip in a little Pink Floyd, Molly Hatchett, Guns N Roses and such but I can tell a difference in myself when I'm listening to Third Day, Skillet, Lecrae, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp and a bunch of other great artists.
Baseball season is back. My son is playing again but I'm not involved at all this time...and it hasn't been an easy change. It looks like the schedule is going to work for me to head out to Surprise in March for a little Spring Training with the Rangers. I'm pumped. I'm traveling with a good friend from our younger days and staying with his brother/another good friend. I'm ready to go today. Other than the packing. Shorts and t-shirts...
I had a meeting Tuesday morning with some staff that has been through our company leadership training program. As we talked about different issues, it struck me again how people interact with each other is so important in our lives in so many ways. Relationships of one sort or another are a part of the fabric of our lives. It brought me back to Monday's post - the one relationship I want to succeed at is the one between me and my Lord. As long as that relationship is successful, I'm fully confident all others will work out for the best.
Grace and peace to you.
If you are looking for a good blog to read, check out http://texastoothcarpenter.blogspot.com and http://rross.blogspot.com. These are two very good friends of mine and they say some things that would benefit a lot of people to think about.
I've been asked to be a guest writer for another friend's blog.
For the past 8 years or so I've been a columnist for two different western industry publications writing about business, management, leadership and operations. The crazy part is that I got paid to do it! Ha. I had the lofty title of Business Editor at the last gig but gave it up this year because I can only write so much it seems and because it's time to scale back. Even as I say I need to scale back, I'm contemplating taking on another big, time-consuming adventure. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment.
This is one of those days were I'm sort of dry as far as writing so I am filling space with yak-yak. Yep, yak-yak. Use that in Words With Friends and see what kind of response you get.
I have changed my musical choices to the point that at least 85% of what I listen to is Christian-themed music. Don't think I'm patting myself on the back because I still slip in a little Pink Floyd, Molly Hatchett, Guns N Roses and such but I can tell a difference in myself when I'm listening to Third Day, Skillet, Lecrae, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp and a bunch of other great artists.
Baseball season is back. My son is playing again but I'm not involved at all this time...and it hasn't been an easy change. It looks like the schedule is going to work for me to head out to Surprise in March for a little Spring Training with the Rangers. I'm pumped. I'm traveling with a good friend from our younger days and staying with his brother/another good friend. I'm ready to go today. Other than the packing. Shorts and t-shirts...
I had a meeting Tuesday morning with some staff that has been through our company leadership training program. As we talked about different issues, it struck me again how people interact with each other is so important in our lives in so many ways. Relationships of one sort or another are a part of the fabric of our lives. It brought me back to Monday's post - the one relationship I want to succeed at is the one between me and my Lord. As long as that relationship is successful, I'm fully confident all others will work out for the best.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, February 14, 2011
I Am Second
I've shared this here before but something said yesterday brought it back to mind. Many of you have seen the iamsecond.com web site and some of the awesome monologues there. I think it's a great idea even if they won't let me into their club...or at least they wouldn't the last time I tried to become a member but that's another story. Where I was going is the idea of being second to God. I grew up being taught that I was 3rd or maybe even lower down the scale. The God came first, others came second and then I might fit in to 3rd. The acronym JOY was used (Jesus/Others/Yourself) to teach us how to live humbly. I understand the concept and realize how easy it is to start splitting hairs over semantics but, personally, I think it's wrong teaching.
The greatest command is to love God with all my heart, soul and mind. The second is to love my neighbor AS MYSELF. I capitalized those last two words because how am I supposed to love my neighbor as myself if God is first, they are second and I am third? Here's where I'm going with this. The only relationship in the world I need to get right is the one between God and me. If he's first and I'm right next to Him, then the other relationships will figure themselves out because God will be flowing through me. I don't need to worry about serving others if I'm not right with God and the more things I put between God and me, the more trouble I'm going to have staying focused on what His will is. I think it's best that I make sure I'm staying on the same page as God and then I can be a servant to others but not before I am whole with God.
I spent a lot of years trying to put others first, often failing at it but trying, and I never really got close to God. Now, as I desire to get closer and closer to Him, to make Him first and me a close second, I am learning how I can serve others much better through His power.
I am second and I plan to stay there. Again, maybe I'm splitting hairs but this is how I need to approach my walk with God so that I grow closer to Him.
Grace and peace to you.
The greatest command is to love God with all my heart, soul and mind. The second is to love my neighbor AS MYSELF. I capitalized those last two words because how am I supposed to love my neighbor as myself if God is first, they are second and I am third? Here's where I'm going with this. The only relationship in the world I need to get right is the one between God and me. If he's first and I'm right next to Him, then the other relationships will figure themselves out because God will be flowing through me. I don't need to worry about serving others if I'm not right with God and the more things I put between God and me, the more trouble I'm going to have staying focused on what His will is. I think it's best that I make sure I'm staying on the same page as God and then I can be a servant to others but not before I am whole with God.
I spent a lot of years trying to put others first, often failing at it but trying, and I never really got close to God. Now, as I desire to get closer and closer to Him, to make Him first and me a close second, I am learning how I can serve others much better through His power.
I am second and I plan to stay there. Again, maybe I'm splitting hairs but this is how I need to approach my walk with God so that I grow closer to Him.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, February 11, 2011
WHAT? No post?
I'm a late blogger today so if you read this you will be one of the few.
Today I'm living on thankfulness. I'm spending the day doing all I can to blog any negative thought out of my mind with a response of thankfulness. I'm thankful for my kids, my friends, my health, my job...oh I could go on and on but my idea for today is to be thankful. Something I didn't like came up at work this morning and I have decided to stay focused on the fact that I have a job and am thankful for what it gives me.
I may try to do this all weekend! I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself and do it for a week or month. That would be crazy, huh? :)
God loves me. What more do I need to know today?
Grace and peace to you.
Today I'm living on thankfulness. I'm spending the day doing all I can to blog any negative thought out of my mind with a response of thankfulness. I'm thankful for my kids, my friends, my health, my job...oh I could go on and on but my idea for today is to be thankful. Something I didn't like came up at work this morning and I have decided to stay focused on the fact that I have a job and am thankful for what it gives me.
I may try to do this all weekend! I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself and do it for a week or month. That would be crazy, huh? :)
God loves me. What more do I need to know today?
Grace and peace to you.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Brrrr
That has to be one of the more compelling titles I've ever written.
I drove to work on Tuesday in 2 wheel drive at normal speeds because there was no ice. The TV stations don't always help and don't always report very accurately. Tuesday morning, Channel 8 was reporting a rollover wreck at 287 and 2264. Hello? That happens 6 times a year; summer, winter, spring and fall, daylight or dark.
I heard the roads around Decatur were treacherous. Heck, I couldn't spin my tires anywhere and I like going in circles as much as the next guy.
The deal with Michael Young is looking a little ugly. I hate to see that right now but, it's business.
I've never met Wayne Jacobsen and yet he has written a book about me. Here's a segment I'm going to be sharing in 2 Bible studies I'm doing soon. "The motives of conformity do not produce intimacy. This is where organized religion so often gets it backward, and why so many people in the pews remain so distant from God and so unchanged in their character. We think conformity to God's ways will lead us closer to him, when the opposite is true. If we focus on our own fears and performance, he will seem more distant. It is only by living in the security of God's affection that he is able to transform us." He Love Me, p. 80
He goes on to talk about love being stronger than fear. In Psalm 111:10 we are told that fear is the beginning of wisdom. I believe this is true because I believe that people who do not strive to know God, whether they go to church or not, may one day know his wrath. (Please know that isn't a judgment, that is my belief. I might be wrong and find out that God isn't punishing anyone and that's His call to make and no skin off my back. As much as He's put up with from me, I'm just tickled pink I get to keep learning how much He loves me each day.) While fear may be the beginning of wisdom, John says in I John 4 that perfect love drives out fear. If I really love God I don't have to fear God because there is no fear in love. I take it to mean that our walk with God is a journey that started with understanding His power and growing into a more and more loving relationship with Him day by day.
I have a desire to love God more, to know Him intimately, to live in His love and to glorify Him in all that I do.
Grace and peace to you.
I drove to work on Tuesday in 2 wheel drive at normal speeds because there was no ice. The TV stations don't always help and don't always report very accurately. Tuesday morning, Channel 8 was reporting a rollover wreck at 287 and 2264. Hello? That happens 6 times a year; summer, winter, spring and fall, daylight or dark.
I heard the roads around Decatur were treacherous. Heck, I couldn't spin my tires anywhere and I like going in circles as much as the next guy.
The deal with Michael Young is looking a little ugly. I hate to see that right now but, it's business.
I've never met Wayne Jacobsen and yet he has written a book about me. Here's a segment I'm going to be sharing in 2 Bible studies I'm doing soon. "The motives of conformity do not produce intimacy. This is where organized religion so often gets it backward, and why so many people in the pews remain so distant from God and so unchanged in their character. We think conformity to God's ways will lead us closer to him, when the opposite is true. If we focus on our own fears and performance, he will seem more distant. It is only by living in the security of God's affection that he is able to transform us." He Love Me, p. 80
He goes on to talk about love being stronger than fear. In Psalm 111:10 we are told that fear is the beginning of wisdom. I believe this is true because I believe that people who do not strive to know God, whether they go to church or not, may one day know his wrath. (Please know that isn't a judgment, that is my belief. I might be wrong and find out that God isn't punishing anyone and that's His call to make and no skin off my back. As much as He's put up with from me, I'm just tickled pink I get to keep learning how much He loves me each day.) While fear may be the beginning of wisdom, John says in I John 4 that perfect love drives out fear. If I really love God I don't have to fear God because there is no fear in love. I take it to mean that our walk with God is a journey that started with understanding His power and growing into a more and more loving relationship with Him day by day.
I have a desire to love God more, to know Him intimately, to live in His love and to glorify Him in all that I do.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Facebook Ranting
There are several things I like Facebook and quite a few I don't. I like seeing some old friends and reconnecting. I like some coupons I get, flyfishing destination ideas and knowing what's new at gogo gumbo. What I particularly don't like is some of the ranting I see by people who then turn around and post scripture and put on the Christian face. The reason I don't like it is because it reminds me of me, of how I have acted in the past, of how I still act at times and of the miles to travel to be who I want to be on this earth.
I do not want God to take on a "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" attitude because he wouldn't tolerate me very long. I do not want God to start shouting out my flaws to all who can hear because He will be busy and I will be thoroughly embarrassed. I do not want God telling me I will have to earn His trust back every time I fail and then have that earning process completely subjective to His whim. I'll never get His full trust back if I have to earn it. Yet, I have treated people that way and done those things at times.
I'm better about such things today but not perfect. I want to be better about it today than I was yesterday and I want to be better at it tomorrow than I am today. I want to be more and more and more like God each and every day I'm still on this earth. God, help me, restore me, renew me, lead me. Make my life yours, make my words yours, make my actions yours.
Grace and peace to you.
I do not want God to take on a "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" attitude because he wouldn't tolerate me very long. I do not want God to start shouting out my flaws to all who can hear because He will be busy and I will be thoroughly embarrassed. I do not want God telling me I will have to earn His trust back every time I fail and then have that earning process completely subjective to His whim. I'll never get His full trust back if I have to earn it. Yet, I have treated people that way and done those things at times.
I'm better about such things today but not perfect. I want to be better about it today than I was yesterday and I want to be better at it tomorrow than I am today. I want to be more and more and more like God each and every day I'm still on this earth. God, help me, restore me, renew me, lead me. Make my life yours, make my words yours, make my actions yours.
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Wounds
Why do some wounds take so long to heal? I have a cut on my arm that is taking forever (it seems) to heal. A big scab covered the wound for awhile and then it came off and a smaller one formed followed by one even smaller. Each time, I see it getting better but the cut is still there.
Life isn't much different. Sometimes the cut is covered but the scab comes off, the wound is revealed but a smaller scab forms and so on. While the healing gets better and shorter, the wound is still there.
Healing isn't easy and isn't pain free. I wish I had something more positive to say today. I just don't.
Grace and peace to you.
Life isn't much different. Sometimes the cut is covered but the scab comes off, the wound is revealed but a smaller scab forms and so on. While the healing gets better and shorter, the wound is still there.
Healing isn't easy and isn't pain free. I wish I had something more positive to say today. I just don't.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Super Bowl Hangover
I didn't really care who won but had two wagers going and both the other parties insisted on taking Green Bay so I was halfway cheering for the Steelers. I do like Mike Tomlin.
I lost the bet. I usually don't lose bets because I will typically only bet when I'm highly confident. This time I bet so I would have a reason to watch the game. Now I'm out a couple of coffees at Starbucks.
The upside is that I get a coffee at Starbucks paying off the bets.
People shouldn't gamble. This has been a public service announcement.
How do you butcher the Star Spangled Banner?
I wasn't as big a fan of the VW/Darth Vader commercial as most people seem to be. It may be because I've never watched Star Wars.
The Budweiser/Tiny Dancer commercial is the one that stands out to me. I have a weird sense of humor though. I always like the ETrade commercials but they didn't strike me as funny as past years. Oh, the one with the monkeys pulling in to the parking lot and hemming the guy in his car kind of cracked me up.
Fergie didn't sound good. I blame that on Jerry. What about the people who bought tickets and then didn't have seats because of fire code. Jerry.
The lighted dancers on the field were pretty cool.
The saddest part of the night was watching what's-her-name feed ARoidFraud popcorn. Ewwww. And why did Jerry let him in the building anyway?
I'm really not a ARod hater. He's got a sweet swing but a) he's a Yankee and b) being fed popcorn isn't a pretty picture.
I don't care for Big Ben and he had a bad game but I do wonder how bad his knee was hurting. I give him credit for being a gamer.
Pro football just doesn't hold my interest.
Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in less than 10 days. Now that's something to cheer about.
Grace and peace to you.
I lost the bet. I usually don't lose bets because I will typically only bet when I'm highly confident. This time I bet so I would have a reason to watch the game. Now I'm out a couple of coffees at Starbucks.
The upside is that I get a coffee at Starbucks paying off the bets.
People shouldn't gamble. This has been a public service announcement.
How do you butcher the Star Spangled Banner?
I wasn't as big a fan of the VW/Darth Vader commercial as most people seem to be. It may be because I've never watched Star Wars.
The Budweiser/Tiny Dancer commercial is the one that stands out to me. I have a weird sense of humor though. I always like the ETrade commercials but they didn't strike me as funny as past years. Oh, the one with the monkeys pulling in to the parking lot and hemming the guy in his car kind of cracked me up.
Fergie didn't sound good. I blame that on Jerry. What about the people who bought tickets and then didn't have seats because of fire code. Jerry.
The lighted dancers on the field were pretty cool.
The saddest part of the night was watching what's-her-name feed ARoidFraud popcorn. Ewwww. And why did Jerry let him in the building anyway?
I'm really not a ARod hater. He's got a sweet swing but a) he's a Yankee and b) being fed popcorn isn't a pretty picture.
I don't care for Big Ben and he had a bad game but I do wonder how bad his knee was hurting. I give him credit for being a gamer.
Pro football just doesn't hold my interest.
Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in less than 10 days. Now that's something to cheer about.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, February 04, 2011
A Day of Levity
Enough of the wrestling for one week.
Monday was a great day. I had lunch with 2 of my brothers that I think so highly of and that I constantly benefit from by seeing how God is working in their life and the lives of others. It was also a great day because a very good friend called to ask me about something he is wrestling with and I know God spoke through me using some of the transformation I have been through to lay something on my brother's heart. Glory to God.
Monday was also the day I came up with a plan to strike back at Jerry Jones and I encourage everyone to join me. Instead of spending $200 or more to stand outside Jerryworld to watch the Super Bowl, let's get everyone we know to put our TV's in a window and stand in our yards and watch it for free! What do you think?
I'm writing this on Monday afternoon (yes, there are some things I do in advance) and very wintry weather is expected overnight and into tomorrow. 3-5 inches of snow are possible with sleet and ice likely. Let's see what the end result looks like.
I'm finding more interesting stuff on visitors from my blog. On Monday, I had a visitor from Brazil and Switzerland and two people accessing it from their Blackberry. I'm not sure what that means but I'm fascinated by it all the same.
Have you ever played with the fish on my blog? Scroll down and on the right hand column you will see fish swimming around. You can click with your mouse and leave fish food for them to eat. I spend hours each day just playing with them. (Not really.)
ACU closed school on Tuesday and Wednesday They never did that when I was out there. The story that went around when I was in school is that ACU wouldn't call off a day of classes until Jesus returned. Some people I knew back in the day called the radio and TV stations one night telling them ACU would be closed. The media outlets announced it then came back later saying it was a mistake. I heard one of the people who was doing the prank calling called back saying he was one of the Deans when someone at the TV station told him that they knew the Dean personally and were recording the call. That ended the fun until 2 years later when the Dean met with the guy doing the calling and a friend who was there that night egging it on and began relaying the story to them because it was again snowing outside but the Dean apparently didn't know he was talking to the culprits. The egging on friend almost choked trying to suppress his laughter. At least that's how I heard the story.
I heard a guy at breakfast at the Whistle Stop on Thursday morning, while looking at the window at someone having trouble driving on the ice, say "why are these people even out?" Maybe he lives at the restaurant but I'm assuming he "got out" to come get his coffee.
Here's a mini-rant. Most of us pay our electric and gas bills and get no say in how much we pay so why does ERCOT decide there isn't enough of it to go around and just start shutting us down? Sure, I won't have to pay for what I don't use but it's the principle of the thing. Why can't I just tell ERCOT there isn't enough money to go around and I'll pay them 95% of the electric bill? It's really not the money that bothers me, it's the lack of planning. Of course, I know little about all of that stuff so I do not know of what I speak other than I don't think it's a good idea to go around cutting off people's electricity when you have failed to have a plan in place. OK, I'll quit rambling about something I don't know anything about.
It's been a hard week emotionally. I'll have at least one of my kids with me this weekend and that will surely lift my spirits, give me a few laughs and leave me in wonder of how special they are.
Oh, by the way, I'm not going to stand outside and watch the Super Bowl. That would be silly.
I'll leave you with this. God's love is so strong for me that He was willing to let me come and live on this earth, a place of seasons, seasons of joy, seasons of hope, seasons of pain, seasons of suffering, with full faith in me to love Him so much that I would be a light in the darkness. He isn't overprotective. He isn't scared. He is strong and bold and wanting to fill me up with His love so that it overflows in me to others who need to experience it. He loves me so much that He made a path for me to be with Him for eternity, He has my inheritance planned and it is more than I can imagine.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday was a great day. I had lunch with 2 of my brothers that I think so highly of and that I constantly benefit from by seeing how God is working in their life and the lives of others. It was also a great day because a very good friend called to ask me about something he is wrestling with and I know God spoke through me using some of the transformation I have been through to lay something on my brother's heart. Glory to God.
Monday was also the day I came up with a plan to strike back at Jerry Jones and I encourage everyone to join me. Instead of spending $200 or more to stand outside Jerryworld to watch the Super Bowl, let's get everyone we know to put our TV's in a window and stand in our yards and watch it for free! What do you think?
I'm writing this on Monday afternoon (yes, there are some things I do in advance) and very wintry weather is expected overnight and into tomorrow. 3-5 inches of snow are possible with sleet and ice likely. Let's see what the end result looks like.
I'm finding more interesting stuff on visitors from my blog. On Monday, I had a visitor from Brazil and Switzerland and two people accessing it from their Blackberry. I'm not sure what that means but I'm fascinated by it all the same.
Have you ever played with the fish on my blog? Scroll down and on the right hand column you will see fish swimming around. You can click with your mouse and leave fish food for them to eat. I spend hours each day just playing with them. (Not really.)
ACU closed school on Tuesday and Wednesday They never did that when I was out there. The story that went around when I was in school is that ACU wouldn't call off a day of classes until Jesus returned. Some people I knew back in the day called the radio and TV stations one night telling them ACU would be closed. The media outlets announced it then came back later saying it was a mistake. I heard one of the people who was doing the prank calling called back saying he was one of the Deans when someone at the TV station told him that they knew the Dean personally and were recording the call. That ended the fun until 2 years later when the Dean met with the guy doing the calling and a friend who was there that night egging it on and began relaying the story to them because it was again snowing outside but the Dean apparently didn't know he was talking to the culprits. The egging on friend almost choked trying to suppress his laughter. At least that's how I heard the story.
I heard a guy at breakfast at the Whistle Stop on Thursday morning, while looking at the window at someone having trouble driving on the ice, say "why are these people even out?" Maybe he lives at the restaurant but I'm assuming he "got out" to come get his coffee.
Here's a mini-rant. Most of us pay our electric and gas bills and get no say in how much we pay so why does ERCOT decide there isn't enough of it to go around and just start shutting us down? Sure, I won't have to pay for what I don't use but it's the principle of the thing. Why can't I just tell ERCOT there isn't enough money to go around and I'll pay them 95% of the electric bill? It's really not the money that bothers me, it's the lack of planning. Of course, I know little about all of that stuff so I do not know of what I speak other than I don't think it's a good idea to go around cutting off people's electricity when you have failed to have a plan in place. OK, I'll quit rambling about something I don't know anything about.
It's been a hard week emotionally. I'll have at least one of my kids with me this weekend and that will surely lift my spirits, give me a few laughs and leave me in wonder of how special they are.
Oh, by the way, I'm not going to stand outside and watch the Super Bowl. That would be silly.
I'll leave you with this. God's love is so strong for me that He was willing to let me come and live on this earth, a place of seasons, seasons of joy, seasons of hope, seasons of pain, seasons of suffering, with full faith in me to love Him so much that I would be a light in the darkness. He isn't overprotective. He isn't scared. He is strong and bold and wanting to fill me up with His love so that it overflows in me to others who need to experience it. He loves me so much that He made a path for me to be with Him for eternity, He has my inheritance planned and it is more than I can imagine.
Grace and peace to you.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Things I'm Wrestling With - Day 4
Relationships and conflict.
Do you know many relationships that don't suffer conflict at some point. Best friends in school get mad at each other for the craziest reasons. Brothers and sisters fight over the littlest things. Co-workers battle over turf. Parents and children argue over problems, big and small. Husbands and wives fight. Relationships come with conflicts and as much as I don't want conflict, it seems to often follow - personal relationships, business relationships, all relationships. Conflict is all around me at work, at home, at church.
I hear it said that God made us for relationships and yet so many relationships are full of conflict, some experience it less often, others more often. I wonder why. OK, maybe I have a good idea why but it doesn't make me feel better about it, doesn't make me walk away whistling Blue Skies and Rainbows.
Historically, I haven't dealt well with personal conflict. I avoid it. I deny it. I mask it. And, my way of dealing with conflict has likely cost me a great price in emotional, spiritual and physical health and peace. I hope to learn to do conflict better one day because today, today I am just worn out from it, completely drained and emotionally bankrupt. I often hear Rodney King in my head, "can't we just all get along?" and wonder the same thing.
One day I hope I manage conflict better. I believe God is leading me to help others with conflict and to prepare myself professionally and personally to be active in reducing and eliminating conflict. I pray that the obstacles to accomplish this are removed and I believe they will be if this is what God is calling me to do. I'm hopeful for what the future holds.
Have you done anything to help reduce or eliminate conflict in your life?
Grace and peace to you.
Do you know many relationships that don't suffer conflict at some point. Best friends in school get mad at each other for the craziest reasons. Brothers and sisters fight over the littlest things. Co-workers battle over turf. Parents and children argue over problems, big and small. Husbands and wives fight. Relationships come with conflicts and as much as I don't want conflict, it seems to often follow - personal relationships, business relationships, all relationships. Conflict is all around me at work, at home, at church.
I hear it said that God made us for relationships and yet so many relationships are full of conflict, some experience it less often, others more often. I wonder why. OK, maybe I have a good idea why but it doesn't make me feel better about it, doesn't make me walk away whistling Blue Skies and Rainbows.
Historically, I haven't dealt well with personal conflict. I avoid it. I deny it. I mask it. And, my way of dealing with conflict has likely cost me a great price in emotional, spiritual and physical health and peace. I hope to learn to do conflict better one day because today, today I am just worn out from it, completely drained and emotionally bankrupt. I often hear Rodney King in my head, "can't we just all get along?" and wonder the same thing.
One day I hope I manage conflict better. I believe God is leading me to help others with conflict and to prepare myself professionally and personally to be active in reducing and eliminating conflict. I pray that the obstacles to accomplish this are removed and I believe they will be if this is what God is calling me to do. I'm hopeful for what the future holds.
Have you done anything to help reduce or eliminate conflict in your life?
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Things I'm (Done) Wrestling With - Day 3
I had lunch on Friday with a friend from college. He's a minister now which is kind of funny when I think back to what we were doing in college but I digress.
He still gets the question "Is baptism essential to salvation?" He got it the other day from an SMU student while he was standing next to a preacher out of the Baptist background. He said he and the other preacher looked at each other, chuckled and the other preacher said, "do you want this one or do you want me to take it?" Now, some of you may not understand that but it's funny to me coming from the Church of Christ background in two regards. One, it's funny because it's one of those theological debates that pit people who love God against each other. Maybe it's more sad than funny. Anyway, the other reason is because I think it's the wrong question.
I grew up under the "baptism essential to salvation" idea and defended it. Then I went through a period where I didn't agree with it. Today, I feel baptism is the greatest thing a Christian could ever do. Not because it's commanded and not because it's an act of obedience. Again, those are answers that I believe are given in response to the wrong question.
Today, if someone asks me if I think baptism is essential to salvation, I simply ask, "do you want to be united to Jesus, the Savior?" To me, that is the question because when I read Romans 6, I get excited about baptism. I get chills reading it, knowing that my baptism united me with His death and my coming out of the water united me with His resurrection. I think it's the most incredible imagery of me being united to my Lord I could imagine. A simple act yet, in my reading and understanding of the passage, an incredibly powerful act.
I don't wrestle with baptism any longer, I celebrate it and what I believe it means for my life, this one and the life to come.
Grace and peace to you.
He still gets the question "Is baptism essential to salvation?" He got it the other day from an SMU student while he was standing next to a preacher out of the Baptist background. He said he and the other preacher looked at each other, chuckled and the other preacher said, "do you want this one or do you want me to take it?" Now, some of you may not understand that but it's funny to me coming from the Church of Christ background in two regards. One, it's funny because it's one of those theological debates that pit people who love God against each other. Maybe it's more sad than funny. Anyway, the other reason is because I think it's the wrong question.
I grew up under the "baptism essential to salvation" idea and defended it. Then I went through a period where I didn't agree with it. Today, I feel baptism is the greatest thing a Christian could ever do. Not because it's commanded and not because it's an act of obedience. Again, those are answers that I believe are given in response to the wrong question.
Today, if someone asks me if I think baptism is essential to salvation, I simply ask, "do you want to be united to Jesus, the Savior?" To me, that is the question because when I read Romans 6, I get excited about baptism. I get chills reading it, knowing that my baptism united me with His death and my coming out of the water united me with His resurrection. I think it's the most incredible imagery of me being united to my Lord I could imagine. A simple act yet, in my reading and understanding of the passage, an incredibly powerful act.
I don't wrestle with baptism any longer, I celebrate it and what I believe it means for my life, this one and the life to come.
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Things I'm Wrestling With - Day 2
Job. (The guy in the Bible, not my workplace.)
I led a Bible study at work last Wednesday about the topic of suffering and, believe it or not, Job's name came up. Go figure. I love the story of Job because it brings me comfort. So, what am I wrestling with?
Three different people in the last 2 months have told me they don't believe all the stories in the Bible are literal and they all pointed to the story of Job as one of those stories. Two people referred to it as a myth, another as a parable.
Now, before my good conservative church friends allow their blood pressure to get too high, let me tell you what I think starting with the part that might make you think I've gone kookier than before...
I'm OK with those people believing what they believe. The reason why is that I have come to believe many things about God and His word and His power and His love (I could go on) much differently than I did before the big storm of my life. I have come to believe that people see things and hear things that a few years ago would have made me think they needed to be in a rubber room. I am open to many, many things people believe about God because I have come to see so much so differently - so I don't argue with these people who challenge my beliefs, I embrace them because the challenge makes me think, makes me talk to God, makes me search my heart and my connection with God to examine what I believe. Those who challenge me have a very special place in my heart because they challenge me to be more in-touch with the Almighty Lord.
So, here's where I am on the story of Job after spending some time thinking about it. I believe the story is absolutely real. I need the story of Job to be real because I need to know that he overcame the pain of suffering and was a better person for it. I need to know that he lived with the scars of pain, the memories of pain and still became the person God wanted him to be. You see, for me, if the story is not real then I have no more connection with Job than I do with Batman. If Job isn't real, he doesn't speak to my suffering. If Job isn't real, I don't even know if God is real and if God isn't real, there is no purpose to my life. I need to know that God allowed Job's suffering because God HAD FAITH in his creation, had faith that what He had created in His image could survive suffering by trusting in the Maker and be better for it. I believe Job is real and his story is real and his suffering is real and his redemption is real because I believe that is what the power of God can do...His power can allow that suffering because it is stronger than the pain. And, I want a God who challenges me to grow and to be more than I would be just floating through this life and I want a God who will remind me that He is the greatest and there is no greater, that the one I choose to worship didn't need me to set the cornerstone of the earth or to create it's measurements or to tell the sea to stop and go no further and who's voice rises above the clouds.
Will I continue to wrestle with the story of Job; with the thoughts of my friends who challenge me? I hope so because it will keep me engaged but today, I do not wrestle with the realness of Job's story, instead of jump in it and splash around in it like kids jump in a pool, full of joy that my Lord can do mighty things in me just as He did with Job.
Grace and peace to you.
I led a Bible study at work last Wednesday about the topic of suffering and, believe it or not, Job's name came up. Go figure. I love the story of Job because it brings me comfort. So, what am I wrestling with?
Three different people in the last 2 months have told me they don't believe all the stories in the Bible are literal and they all pointed to the story of Job as one of those stories. Two people referred to it as a myth, another as a parable.
Now, before my good conservative church friends allow their blood pressure to get too high, let me tell you what I think starting with the part that might make you think I've gone kookier than before...
I'm OK with those people believing what they believe. The reason why is that I have come to believe many things about God and His word and His power and His love (I could go on) much differently than I did before the big storm of my life. I have come to believe that people see things and hear things that a few years ago would have made me think they needed to be in a rubber room. I am open to many, many things people believe about God because I have come to see so much so differently - so I don't argue with these people who challenge my beliefs, I embrace them because the challenge makes me think, makes me talk to God, makes me search my heart and my connection with God to examine what I believe. Those who challenge me have a very special place in my heart because they challenge me to be more in-touch with the Almighty Lord.
So, here's where I am on the story of Job after spending some time thinking about it. I believe the story is absolutely real. I need the story of Job to be real because I need to know that he overcame the pain of suffering and was a better person for it. I need to know that he lived with the scars of pain, the memories of pain and still became the person God wanted him to be. You see, for me, if the story is not real then I have no more connection with Job than I do with Batman. If Job isn't real, he doesn't speak to my suffering. If Job isn't real, I don't even know if God is real and if God isn't real, there is no purpose to my life. I need to know that God allowed Job's suffering because God HAD FAITH in his creation, had faith that what He had created in His image could survive suffering by trusting in the Maker and be better for it. I believe Job is real and his story is real and his suffering is real and his redemption is real because I believe that is what the power of God can do...His power can allow that suffering because it is stronger than the pain. And, I want a God who challenges me to grow and to be more than I would be just floating through this life and I want a God who will remind me that He is the greatest and there is no greater, that the one I choose to worship didn't need me to set the cornerstone of the earth or to create it's measurements or to tell the sea to stop and go no further and who's voice rises above the clouds.
Will I continue to wrestle with the story of Job; with the thoughts of my friends who challenge me? I hope so because it will keep me engaged but today, I do not wrestle with the realness of Job's story, instead of jump in it and splash around in it like kids jump in a pool, full of joy that my Lord can do mighty things in me just as He did with Job.
Grace and peace to you.
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