It was still a Merry Christmas

A few years ago I was going over my Christmas list and freaking out over the gifts I bought for my family.  I debated over and over if I had spent too much or too little.  I thought about whether or not I put any thought into the gifts, or if I was just checking them off.  I believe that year I nearly worried myself completely out of the Christmas spirit and into an Ebeneezer mood.

This year I was determined not to let the gifts rule me or get me in a foul mood. With most of the shopping done by December 21st I was ready to hit cruise control.  I had taken care of everything it seamed.  I had presents for employees, friends, family, nieces and nephews, siblings, in-laws, children and especially my wife.

Suddenly, and without warning Trish and Ava both got sick.  Trish had a killer sinus cold and Ava an ear infection.  Suddenly, presents and gifts weren't important.  Suddenly, I was more than willing to give up all the order, budget, and gifts for the surety that they would be okay.  Suddenly, I was less focused on i-Tunes and gift cards, and more focused on spending time with my family, praying they would be okay, and trying to give my love to them so they could get better.  Then, to make matters worse, I got sick with either a stomach bug or a case of food poisoning.  Even as I write this post, we are all still in the recovery stage.

Now, you might say it would suck to have so many people sick on Christmas.  Yes, in a way you are right.  It was not fun to be sick and in pain on Christmas day.  It was no fun to watch Ava scream and kick in pain at night and tug on her ear.  It was definitely no fun to watch Trish suffer through sinus pain.  In that regard it was not fun, but it was in many ways still a Merry Christmas.  How?

Well, with so many of us not feeling well I was drawn closer to God in prayer.  I prayed at night and during the day for their health and mine.  As I thought about their pain and aches it also drew us closer together.  I spent more time holding Ava and trying to be a helpful spouse than at any time before in recent memory.  This was a blessing in so many ways.  The time together was a blessing and the realization that I can do so much more to love on my family was a greater blessing.

It was also a Merry Christmas because this time of sickness drew us out of the bustle of the crowded malls and angry and bitter overs spenders and into a different crowd.  This year I graciously found myself in the crowd that realized that Christmas is all about God's relationship with us through Christ, the best and first ever Christmas gift.  Christmas is also about our relationships with one another.  Yes, I received some very exciting gifts this Christmas.  Some were items on my wish list and some were not but, the most precious gift I received was just being with my family and having them continue to get well.

We are all still plodding along trying to get well but I will call this a Merry Christmas.  What more can you ask for than to have received God's gift to the world, wonderful time with family and friends, and a few new shirts and toys to wrap it all up.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  May God make all of your days brighter by his countenance and love.

Catching Up From Thanksgiving

I guess I'm continuing my trend of posting updates.  I'm almost caught up at this point.  This is my Thanksgiving Day post.

When I initially thought about writing a Thanksgiving post I was a bit worried about the content.  I was worried that I would be unable to find enough items to fill a post.  Of course that was narrow thinking.  I too am guilty of putting on my "The World Is Against Me" glasses from time to time.  I'm so glad that my wife pulled out our "Thanksgiving Journal" again this year.  It is amazing how the simple act of finding one thing to be thankful for can suddenly generate a storm of gratitude.

I am thankful for so many great things this year and so many smaller things.  I am thankful

• God sending his Son Jesus the Christ to die for my sins, and those of the world
• God's forgiveness, strength, light and Holy Word
• My wife who faithfully loves and supports our family, especially me
• My children who love and challenge me to be a better, less selfish person
• My mom and dad who love on me all the time
• My wife for fixing one heck of a pre-Thanksgiving dinner
• My mom and dad who give so much to each one of the members of my family
• My dad for treating my kids to dinner
• My mom for treating my kids to "Grandma Camp"
• My siblings who are simply awesome in so many ways
• My sisters for being impromptu babysitters and baby holders
• My oldest daughters for pitching in when asked
• My youngest daughters for providing non-stop laughter and memories for a lifetime
• My friends at church for helping me grow in faith and be accountable
• My friends at work for helping me stay focused and sane
• My friends from basketball for giving me a good work out and great fellowship
• My wife for keeping me encouraged and keeping me grounded
• My cousins for calling and checking in on me and dropping by for a visit

I am thankful for the success that my family and friends have achieved.  I am thankful for good report cards, and the ability to go to school.  I am thankful for the gifts of my children and the gifts of my spouse.  I am thankful for the talents that God has given each of us and the strength and desire he has given us to use them.

I am thankful for:

• The home we live in
• The cars that have taken us to the places we need to go
• Good health and relatively good health
• The neighborhood we live in 
• The president and the elected official who work on our behalf
• The police and military who provide us with so many freedoms
• The employer that gives me a job and the training to do my job

I am even thankful for the growth that happened this year through the many trials.  I'm not saying I'm glad I went through these things, but I am thankful for the fruit and maturity that has resulted.  I am thankful for each day I have been able to get out of bed and do something for someone.  I am thankful for each day that someone has gotten out of their bed and done something for me.  I am thankful for the birthday gifts my wife gave me, the Father's Day gifts the family gave me, the Anniversary date my wife and I shared, and the joy that life together has brought to us.

I am also very thankful for the appreciation, love, care and attention of so many of my family and friends.  I hope that in some way I have been a blessing in the life of others.  I hope that someone will one day list me as someone they are thankful for, just as I am so thankful for so many people in my life.

God of all, thank you for what you have given and what you have withheld.  I pray your love and kindness create in me a deeper and stronger sense of gratitude for all that you have given to me.  Amen.

Anniversary

I wish I was as diligent about writing as I should be.  Sometimes I get so caught up in my own head that I actually forget to put my ideas in writing.  Such is the case once again.  I meant to put up a big post before our anniversary.  I was planning to post something before and after the big day.  Instead I planned it all out in my head and left it there.

It has been almost a month and although it is quite late, I have to post at least a bit about our anniversary.


My gorgeous wife and I have been married for 13 years now.  We have had some tremendous ups and some unfortunate downs.  Through it all we have remained faithful to the covenant we made on that night where this journey all started.  It is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Our anniversary night was awesome.  We had a great date and dinner.  Thanks to my friend who got us a great table at Dianne's on Devine.  The food was fantastic.  The service was outstanding.  The dessert was worth all five pounds that it caused me to put on.  The conversation was delightful.  It was so nice to talk, catch up, reminisce, and recap the year.  It was also nice to understand the challenges we faced and how we can grow from those challenges to make this marriage even better.  

I am so blessed to have a wife who believes in the value of marriage, the sanctity of marriage, and the joy of marriage.  I am encouraged to work even harder together so that we become a blessing to each other, and to our children and their children.

 

To My Forever, 

I'd do it all over again with you!  I'd love you, marry you, and pledge my all to you all over again.  I am looking forward to all the many wonderful years we will share together from this day forward.  I'm looking forward to making some wonderful and amazing memories this year and each year to come.

May the Lord bless us and keep us.  May the Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us.  May the Lord lift up his countenance toward us [ in our marriage], and give us peace.  (Numbers 6:24-26)

Love Always, Your Forever

Passing it on

Today was a new service for our church.  The youth were in charge and they did an excellent job.  Their singing was amazing.  It started with hearing the beautiful voice of my very talented but often shy oldest daughter.  Her voice is so rich and full and I was just proud of the way she lit into the song and praised God. I was just as happy as can be.  It kept going with my other daughter leading one of my favorites, "I give myself away."  Another amazing part was my niece and nephew doing a duet.  They continue to get better and better.  I encourage you and I to dig deeper than the horror stories on the news and look for youth that are being positive.

I also want to pass on an amazing message from the speaker today.  He had a couple of points that stuck with me.  I won't steal them put try to pass them on in case you need them as much as I do.  He mentioned:

• Bad company corrupts good morals
• Choose your friends wisely
• You can choose who is around you
• Those around you will affect you
• Set standards for yourself, high standards
• You don't have to try to fit in
• Choose standards in line with God's will and his way
• When you set high standards you don't have to stoop down to fit in
• Sometimes you will walk alone
• When you have standards not everyone wants to follow you
• A lot of people don't want to really hear about God
• God sometimes puts you alone so he can put in you what you need
• When trouble comes it shows you who you are
• A child of God
• Strong enough because of the power of Christ at work in you
• When trouble comes it shows you who is really around you
• In the good times everyone wants to hang out
• In the bad times only real friends will remain
• When the good times are ending you can discover whether you had good or bad friends

I'm just passing these few nuggets along.  I definitely needed the refresher of knowing God; the reminder of setting and keeping high standards; the truth about being a child of God; and most of all the part about who is around you.

Finally, we need to remember the scripture that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or think according to the power at work in you.

Blow the Dust Off

I'm sitting here at the table hacking and coughing.  No, I don't have a cold!  Well, not really!  I've already been to the doctor for that.  Anyway, that is not the reason I'm hacking and coughing.  Instead I'm hacking, coughing and choking from all the dust that has been accumulating on this blog.  I'm mean seriously.  I can't even remember that last time I actually sat down and typed something in.  Now that doesn't mean I didn't have anything to say.  Instead what it really means is I got lazy.

So here is a quick catch up.  I'm back in school and this one class, this one class is trying to kick my butt.  Well, actually my butt was kicked and I thought I was going down for the count.  Luckily for me I have an awesome woman in my corner.  My wife!  Yes, she came to the rescue with a dose of truth that reminded me that I am a child of God.

You know, sometimes that is what we all need.  Not a kick in the pants.  We don't need more yelling and screaming.  We don't need someone else telling us to get over it, forget it or even a big move on speech.  Nope!  Sometimes what we need is somebody to come along side us and empathize long enough to gain our trust.  And, when they have our trust we need them to say to us, "God loves you, you are special, and you have tremendous value in God's eyes."  That is what we need more than anything else.  That is what I got from my wife.  Some people had all but stolen my joy, confidence and belief in myself.  I don't even know why they were so negative.  Nor do I know why I was somewhat dumb enough to let them try to take it in the first place.  I'm just blessed because my wife took the time to say - you are a child of God and no matter what, God loves you.

So, perhaps you have had a bad day.  Maybe your spouse has been a jerk, or your boss, or someone at school or on the road.  Maybe it was someone you trusted or respected and they took a cheap shot at you.  Well, if that is you than let me say to you - God loves you!  God knows you are special and you have tremendous value.  And you are a wonderfully made child of God.

Let it rain again

This week I am enjoying all of the rain.  Not driving in the rain or getting caught in the rain with only flip flops, but seeing the beauty and majesty of summer showers.

On Thursday afternoon we saw a beautiful rainbow in the sky.  It was huge.  It was the kind we used to see all the time growing up in the country, but hardly ever see in the cluttered city landscapes.  

On Wednesday we saw some magnificent flashes of lightning paint the sky with bright whites, purples, and pink.  I think there was yellow as well.  Thankfully there were no strikes nearby and hopefully all was well elsewhere.  

I also went out just before the rain and saw an amazing skyline painted pink and just awesome. 

My summer garden has also loved the rain.  I collected a basket full of jalepno peppers on Thursday morning and another handful Thursday night.  I collected a small basket full of tomatoes, which I have used in soup, rice, and a morning smoothie.  It still amazes me how big of a difference a good shower will make on a garden.  Nothing artificial can recreate the goodness God gives naturally.

I  hope it rains again today - I'll pass on the lightning but the rain is so good!!

Summer is Here

If you haven't noticed by now, summer is here.  The first sign of summer came with the 109 - 111 degree days.  And the second sign which followed was that of our A/C going out.  Yep, on one of the hottest days of the summer so far, and we were sweltering inside the house as the A/C unit continued to run all day blowing out warm air.  Well, not really warm but not really cold either.  It was just the kind of air that makes you feel like your still hot even when you are inside.  We spent two or more days trying to make it work and hoping that it would snap out of it.  No luck!


Finally on Saturday night we called the A/C repair company.  I wasn't sure they were even going to be able to come out on Saturday or Sunday.  We were both afraid that they wouldn't be able to come out until Monday at the earliest and middle of the week at the latest.  How many more hot days, and worse hot nights could we take.  Yep!  I'll admit it, we've gone soft!  


After waiting for a call back, the call came Sunday morning.  The temperatures were expected to be high again on Sunday.  There was no relief in sight, and finally we got our call.  Thankfully as the temperatures inside and outside were climbing God blessed us with a repairman who was willing to come to our house after church.  He was able to get the air going again before the thunder rolled in and now we are hoping it holds on through out the summer.


I hope you are enjoying your summer - b/c it is here!  And stay cool.

An excerpt . . .

Mist fell from the branches like tears dropping from the sky. One after another they glistened in the sunlight falling down into shallow pools on the ground. 

Sweat flew across the ring like the mist blowing in off the crashing waves.  The canvas, like a thirsty animal, licked up the salt tinged beads almost as quickly as the fell.

It seemed nearly impossible that this could happen to someone so strong and majestic.  He never imagined the blow would come that could threaten his perch or change his unending upward gaze.

A fight of common jabs and simple combinations turned on an instant.  The fighter never saw it coming - it wasn't in the fight plan.

The final blow came across like thunder.  The ax men's blow gutted the once regal trunk.  As the tip made contact it exploded through bruised and battered chunks of wood.  The head followed scattering debris like the winds of a cyclone; kicking up dust like the mushroom cloud of a grenade blast.

With all the violence of a passenger car colliding with an oncoming train, the opponents blow came out of no where and crashed on the scene.  A stunning left hook plowed into the lower chin and exploded up like a rocket at launch.  Blood, sweat and tears launched alongside the hapless mouth piece in all directions.   

Who would have imagined a shot so strong, so powerful that it could move what decades had built?  Who could have seen it coming so violently and quickly?  The slice was complete.

He never saw it coming.  The left hook missing desperately gave him hope that he had survived.  Who could have seen the upper cut launching itself so violently and quickly?

Stunned!  The king of the forest stood momentarily as if pondering the last few fateful moments.  Stunned!  The limbs hung upright, the trunk quivered. . .

For an instant time stood still.  The air seemed to be rushing outward from a crowd stunned by the lifeless upright mass before their eyes.  The king of the ring stood there, hands frozen in a pose - the lights are off. . . 

An eternity slowly passed as tree upon tree entered and exited the view.  One after another the pines and poplars barely visible in the escalating death role clashed and collided in view like pictures being hurled on a college

Knees quickly bent and the fighter moved into a pirouette as face upon face became an unrecognizable canvas of gazes; eyes, open mouths and shocked faces.

Spinning ever slowly on his base he moved effortlessly through the air.  The canopy of the forest once seemed an impossible distance away now became clearer and closer with every passing moment.

Earlier it seamed a near impossibility that anything beyond the soles of well worn shoes would grace the mat.  Now, only inches separated the limp mass of muscles and fibers from the taught canvas. 

More awesome works

I took this picture while crossing the dam a couple of weeks ago.  This time I actually pulled over to the side of the road to take the picture multiple times.  I also had a sheriff deputy follow me home after that b/c he thought I was a distressed motorist. 

Enjoy the artistry that is God's.

 

Just Awesome

I don't post much with links to videos, but this one is awesome.  It should point you to a skit done by LifeHouse called Everything.  This is an awesome reminder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=g8vL3cN1fRc

That Little Thief

The other day I went to basketball practice with Syd and Paige.  They are playing in a Spring league and are on the same team.  There practices are always so funny.  During warm ups and drills they both seem so laid back and not really in to the whole dribble, pass, shoot and defend concept.  But somehow when they get into the group to do a scrimmage something changes.

Sydney becomes a coach on the floor and she seem to tell everyone where to go and what to do.  She moves well on offense, calls for the ball and takes great shots.  She is also one of the best at rebounding the basketball.  She has a nose for it.

And Paige!  Paige becomes the best little thief ever.  This little thief on defense steals the ball like a cat swiping something out of mid air.  She crouches down on defense and as soon as the ball gets near her she is on it.  It doesn't matter who it is or how big they are.  She will dive in and just take it.  Who knew snatching toys was training her to snatch loose balls.

At this practice she had one of the best steals I've seen.  The other teams player was running down on a fast break.  Little Paige was giving it her all to catch up to him.  When she finally caught up to him he was getting ready to take a shot.  Suddenly Paige is breaking out in the other direction.  Somehow she striped him on the way up and was off.  A bit later she reached in against a much stronger player.  He practically carried her with him for a few steps before she managed to get the ball.

All we could say was, that little thief!

Blocked Again

I just hate writer's block.  And I especially hate the kind of writer's block that occurs when you have so many things that you want to say that you can un-jumble any of them enough to get them on paper. 

Today is one of those days, again!  In fact it has kind of been one of those weeks.  I have a lot of thoughts to recap and ideas to jot down.  Unfortunately they all keep competing for the same fingers on the keyboard and they keep interrupting each other in my mind. 

Just as I want to recap the excitement of a weekend retreat with my best friend, in pops the new poem I've been working on and a poem that just wants to insert itself into the madness.  Along with these ideas comes the thought of posting a conversation about what I learned at the Weekend To Remember Marriage conference and what I wish I already knew.  Plus in all of that I want to talk about being too busy and trying to find focus.  Isn't that funny.  Maybe I should work on not being so busy and then my thoughts can unravel. 

Anyway, perhaps I'll get around to it all this week.  But here is a place holder for thoughts

1. Paige was Player of the Week in Basketball last week
2. I spent time with my best friend this weekend and it was awesome
1. We got stuck on an elevator
2. We got lost in Greenville and created some strange memories
3. New things I learned at the Weekend To Remember Conference
3. Some poems I've been working on (they are all incomplete)
4. Family Sayings captured

An awesome quote from Sunday Service

Today was confirmation Sunday at Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church.  During the service their was awesome music and a powerful dedication of new young lives to the love and care of Christ and his church.  During the message the dedication message of God's love and presence was affirmed.  I captured an awesome quote related to the omnipresence of Christ from the sermon.

A man approached a child leaving church and said, "Son I'll give you a dime if you can tell me where God is."  The little boy replied, "Sir, I'll give you a dollar if you can tell me where God ain't!"

Isn't this an awesome quote and reminder that God is everywhere, even around those who can't, don't or will not see him for who he truly is?

I love you Lord, my strength Psalm 18:1

Thanks God, I needed to hear that

Have you ever had one of those "Wow!" moments in your life?  You know the kind of moment when you have to stop and think, "Wow!  Did that just happen to me?"

Have you ever had one of those moments when you can't believe that something so good, so amazing and so unexpected happens to you?  Have you ever had one of those moments when you are just stunned and surprised by a series of occurrences?  You know the kind where you are in need of something and then out of the blue it happens for you?  Or the kind where you need to here a word of encouragement or a word of praise and then you hear it from someone or something you never expected.  You know the kind where you are struggling to make a decision and then it seems like a voice says, "Choose this one, not that one."  And you still aren't sure so a second voice says, "Yes, choose this one, not that one."  Well, if you have had this kind of experience then you will know what I am talking about.  If not, sit back and read on.

Lately, I have been in a place that I can only describe as needy.  I have been working extra hard to break through at work and be respected and appreciated.  I have been working so many hours that I come home totally exhausted and pretty much fail at every thing I want to do.  Even though I have been working super hard at work, I was feeling like a failure.  Each time I failed at work it seemed I did worse at home.  My confidence in myself was shaken.  My fears were trying to take hold of me and I was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe I wasn't good enough.  I was starting to worry that I wasn't good enough to be the husband of such a beautiful and godly woman, the father of five, the son of my parents, the brother to my siblings, the friend of my friends, and the manager of my employees.  I was even starting to fear that I was losing touch with my God given value.  I mean I knew it was there, but I was in need of a reminder.  

That's when  HE stepped in.   HE who?   HE the great and wonderful  HE; the awesome and mighty  HE; The always amazing and always on time HE.  Yes, God stepped in and he met my need.  I guess looking back it sort of started on Wednesday of this week.  Wednesday was the low point of the week of doubts and shadows b/c I was expecting a thorough grilling and beat down on why the Quality group (my group) was not finding problems before they hit the field.  As I got ready for the day, I started my morning devotional in a new book that I am reading.  In this book it reminded me that I have value, b/c God loves me and loved me enough to send his only Son.  It reminded me that I was worth it.  Of course, I just dismissed this one.  But God continued on.  Thursday night my wife, yes the woman who is worth far more than rubies and gold, said that I needed to take my problems to the one who walks on water.  And she reminded me that God loves me, wants me to be humble, and still saves guys like me and Peter when we start to sink into despair and fear.  Yep, you guessed it.  I didn't want to hear that either.

So I continued in my pity party, waiting and hoping that someone would lift me out of the well I was sinking into.  That's when it happened.  My Wow! moment.  On Saturday morning I sat down to read Proverbs 17, but got distracted by the blinking light of the kindle app on the computer.  I clicked on it and was taken back by the first words that I read.  It said, "You are already awesome!"  I thought, who is she talking about?  So I read on.  I started reading "You are already awesome" on the pages and I flipped back to find out who "you" was.  After a half hour of reading it hit me like a ton of bricks, the you was talking about me.  In God's eyes I am already awesome b/c of Christ.  "Well sure", I thought, "but I don't feel very awesome."  I closed the app and I went upstairs to veg out on some TV.

As I flipped through the channel this guy in an all white suit caught my attention.  I thought, what is up with all of these TV evangelist trying to pawn something off or sell something using the name of God.  But I stopped on that channel.  "God loves you, you are forgiven", he said.  Who is he talking about?  He kept talking and preaching from the Bible.  He talked about God loving his children, wanting them to know that even if you, were the only person on earth he would have come to save you.  No way I thought!  But he kept preaching.  God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever.  You are the whosoever when you believe in Christ.  Wow!  There it was for the umpteenth time this week.  You!  You!  You are valuable.  God loves you!  You are awesome!  God forgives you!  You are his child!  God is here for you!  You have never done more than God is able to forgive you for.  You are not a nobody!  You are awesome!  I love you!

I can't even begin to tell you with all these words on the page just how badly I needed to hear that again.  I needed to hear it again!  I needed someone to penetrate my doubt and fear and remind me of the Good News!  I have been bought with a price, the precious and priceless blood of God's only begotten Son.  I have the invitation, that whosoever!  Yes, even me.

Now, for the last kicker.  The speaker on TV was not selling something.  He said, I'm sharing the Good News so that you can be where God is.  So that you can have what God wants for your life.  So that you can realize you are loved and not condemned for those mistakes of yesterdays gone by.  Wow!.

Thanks God, I needed to hear that.  I love you too!

Number 3 and Number 4

We just had our first Elementary Basketball League game for Sydney and Paige.  Sydney wears #4 and Paige wears #3.

It is that very awesome and funny age group where some kids play well, some play defense well, some play offense well, and some just play.  It is the age were some of the kids just run up and down the court waiving to family in the stands, running jumping and spinning around.  For portions of the game, Paige was that kid.  This is the age group where there is at least one child who knows what he is doing on each team and they look like MJ compared to everyone else.  This is the age where the ball is dribbled less and passed more.  Where everyone stands and says pass it to me, even though they are only about two inches away from each other and 15 feet away from the goal.  But it can be so fun to watch when you try to just focus on them learning.

Today, Paige was sometimes in her own little world.  It was funny.  She dances and jumps and spins as she comes down the court.  She always moves like she has music down in her soul that she is dancing too.  Paige even had a moment where she just dribbled and dribbled and dribbled.... and dribbled and dribbled some more.  She kept dribbling as the coach and crowd said, "Okay Paige pass the ball."  Lucky for all of the parents, who were now shouting pass the ball, she picked up her dribble and passed it to Trey.  Later she said she couldn't make up her mind who she needed to pass it too, so she just kept dribbling.  I suspected as much.  She is a very thoughtful girl and doesn't like to offend her sister so she was conflict whether to force it to Sydney or pass to someone else.

Sydney on the other hand is more focused on playing the game of basketball.  She dribbles and passes to the open (and sometimes her favorite person), and she loves to shoot the ball.  She plays pretty good defense when she is in the post area and she is pretty good at rebounding.  Of course it could use a little work but she has already shown great potential and talent.  One thing that is funny about Sydney, she moves at her own pace.  A couple of times she just walked up the court as the offensive team raced past her.  Once she ran to her spot (area) on the court and stood there as if she was stuck on fly paper while the other team dribbled past her for an open shot.  She even took her time and gracefully (and slowly) dribbled up the court, even waiving off the other kids so she could do it.  It kind of reminds me of Ferdinand the Bull.

This was a fun game.  The girls each got a couple of turns shooting the ball, dribbling the ball and passing to one another.  Sydney scored six points and Paige had two or three steals.

I am looking forward to their continued growth and good play.  This is the age group that is just a joy to watch - but I can't imagine what it would be like to coach it.

Look out for #3 and #4 I know that they are going to be an awesome duo, whether basketball or beyond.

Weekend Reflection - Where are you?

This weekend we took about 17 youth from our church down to a youth event at the Colonial Life Center.  The event combines Christian vendors, bands (rock, rap, and traditional), and an awesome speaker.  It started on Friday night and continued until noon on Sunday.

The weekend has a number of great purposes, but paramount is the relationship you have with Christ.  On Friday night, the speaker framed the question of the weekend:

Where are you in your relationship with Christ?

This question continues to hit me and cause me to search my life.  Where am I?  

Am I leaving home like the prodigal, sure of myself and sure of wanting my own way.  Am I leaving home like the son, with all my money and inheritance in my hand hell bent (emphasis on hell) on having life my way?

Am I like the son when he was living in the foreign land away from God?  Am I trying to do things my own way?  Am I living in luxury and excess without considering values, upbringing, commandments, God's justice or even common decency?  Am I spending my money with rioting and sinful living?  Am I ignoring God and his will for my life? Am I wasting the inheritance and the vast resources the Father has given to me already?

I even wonder, am I hired out like the prodigal when all the money was gone.  Am I hired out to someone who gives me a job in contrary to God's will?  Am I stooping low to fill my belly?  Perhaps I'm down on my knees looking at pig slop and wondering how did I get here.  Am I feeding swine, or doing something that seems so silly, so undignified and so wrong in regards to the will of God?  Am I finally ready to snap to grid?  

Am I on my way home?  Am I practicing my apology and recognizing my stupidity?  Am I finally recognizing the largeness of God's awesome power?  Am I remembering the goodness of God and his mercy?  Am I ready to come home?  Am I truly hoping to fall on the mercy of God?  Do I finally understand that the cross was for me, for my sin and because of my sacred worth to God?

Then again, maybe I am home now, and the Father has fallen on my neck with hugs and kisses.  Perhaps I am at the feast with the fatted calf, wearing a fine rob, a ring on my finger and celebrating with friends.  Am I at home and is there a party for me, the lost son, going on?  

Or maybe, I am the brother who is out in the field?  Am I angry that someone else has received God's favor? Am I in the house, but not at home?  Am I upset because I have yet to understand how Good God is?  Am I upset because I don't recognize the grace given to others is the same grace I have received every day of my life?

Where am I? 

God knows, I pray that I am the prodigal who has come home; repented and feasting now and forever at your table.  

So, where are you?

Are words necessary....

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

As I crossed the dam a couple of days ago I saw this beautiful skyline.  With something like this, words aren't really necessary, are they?  However, if you need some here are a few that came to my mind:

Awesome

Beautiful

Wonderful

Spectacular

Breath taking

Awe inspiring

Jaw dropping

Fantastic

God's majesty

Truly Psalm 19:1 is right, the heavens and the skies declare the glory of the Lord and his majesty!  Praise God!

Use it...

A couple of days ago I was reminded of a very real and unique power that exists in our lives.

I was at a local office store to get some copies made. I was in a major hurry to complete an errand in the 30 minutes or less of what was formerly called my lunch hour. As I looked around, the store was packed and the employees were flying around. I stepped to the counter and asked for a print out of my work. That is all I said, and I'm sure in hindsight I barely managed a smile.  Anyway, after what seemed like an eternity the manager/clerk returned with a stack of what looked like over180 single sided pages.  Wow!  I asked her if they had been printed double sided, but I knew they weren't. Her response to me was a big and seemingly nasty no!

I had assumed one thing and she the other.  I was offended that she had assumed single sided and she was offended that I assumed they would be double sided.  Based on what I needed, that big pile of pages was a useless pile of paper. I hastily paid and went back to work.

As faith would have it the whole episode stayed on my mind for the next day.  I came back two days later to the same store to ask the manager to reprint the pages in the format I had intended but failed to communicate.  To my surprise and delight the experience was totally different.

The manager was nicer, engaging, more professional and extremely kind. The reprint was done right, fast, and done at no charge. As I left I began to ask myself why the change?  What was the difference?

Today I realized the change was in me. It was my attitude, outlook and expectation that changed. It was the prayer as I entered the store this time that was different. It was realizing that words, tones and attitudes can make the difference. It was not being in a hurry and not having an impatient spirit that was different.  Proverbs 18:10 tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. I realized just how true that is. When I used my words with care, intention, honesty, and God's love the outcome was a blessing.  Galatians tells us about the fruit of the Spirit; love, peace and patience.  Well if we call out to God and submit to the Spirit, that fruit is a blessing for now and eternity.

I learned in this experience that we have a God given power to bless others.  So remember the power in your words and your attitude, and use it in God's way - the good way.

Happy Birthday to Trish

Sometimes in life you are lucky enough to find someone to inspire you to dream, to live, to love, to laugh and even to grow up.  I have met someone who has inspired me to be more than I have ever thought I could be on my own.  Through her encouragement, example and testimony I have reached greater heights.  This week, this beautiful woman is celebrating a birthday.

Happy Birthday Trish!

In honor of your birthday:

I never would have imagined that I'd find someone like you

One who makes life special by all the little things you do

I never really dreamed that we would become such an amazing pair

The type of couple that lives a life of passion through the moments that we share

My dear if there is anyone who deserves the very best there is in life

I'd have to say it is you, my best friend, true love and amazing wife

So my birthday wish for you is love, peace and quite time to rest

And many more years to come filled with all the very best

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y!!

Love +8!

I'm fired up!

So I'm riding in this morning and I am listening to ESPN.  Suddenly a story just fires me up.  First, in a bad way, but then as I start to reflect on it more, it fires me up in a good way.  The story was related to one NFL players comments about Tim Tebow.  First, I must admit that I am a big fan of Tebow now that he doesn't play against my Gamecocks.  Anyway, I listened to the comments made about Tebow by another player, and I was fired up.  I began to think about why he was under attack for his faith.  Initially, I could feel myself getting angry as I thought about how many times people have complained, grumbled and spoke negatively about this young man.  He has never once stuck a microphone in his own face and demanded anyone write or record.  I thought to myself, he has never once said to anyone you have to be like me or love my God.  Then it happened!  Just as I could feel myself going in the wrong direction, it happened!  Suddenly, I got fired up in a good way.

With that one thought I realized that Tim Tebow never asked anyone to love his God.  He just simply loved God himself.  And he loved him so much that it pours out and pours into everything he does.  He doesn't come on TV and demand that anyone convert.  Instead, Tebow lives a life of such passion for God that it makes you want to know his God.  It makes you want to know the God he serves, the Christ he proclaims as Savior and the Spirit that brings him strength.  When he talks about giving honor to his Lord and Savior it makes you wonder why, and makes me want to know my God even more.

The more I thought about it, I got even more fired up about it all.  Not fired up because someone else was taking unnecessary pot shots at another human being.  Not fired up because it seems like faith, Christian faith, was under attack.  I was not fired up because it seemed like more of the same negativity was being spewed out over the airwaves.  Instead, I was fired up because someone had lived an example of a life spent giving praise and honor to the only wise God; the only God.  I was fired up because I realized that God wants the same of all of us and especially me.

I am fired up this morning because I know that God wants me to live a life that is so surrendered and so passionate for him that my love and praise pours in and out of everything that I say and do.  God wants my life to be so exciting and passionate that when people see me, they want to know my God!

I'm fired up this morning because I serve and awesome God who is worthy of praise and I hope you will want to know him b/c of the love you see in me, the grace and mercy that is shown to me and the truth of a life well lived.  I'm fired up and I hope that I will continue to be passionate about God so that others will see him and want to know him too!

Super Woman stays here!

So, for the last couple of hours I have been sitting here with Ava.  All I can say is wow, where is Trish's cape.  Surely, she has got to be Super Woman.  I am just not exactly sure where she keeps her cape.  After today, I have no clue how she does it all.  I take that back.  After sitting with Ava for the last four hours I'm not sure how she does anything.  Right now at this moment, I can barely function.  I'm exhausted.  No, seriously.  Today, Ava, seemed to need some "special" attention.  At least that is what I thought.

We have been going back and forth from eating to changing diapers to playing on the floor.  First she eats, and then when she is done I have to go change a diaper.  After the diaper she sits for a minute or two on the floor before demanding a ride on my hip as I try to accomplish something, anything!  Just when I think she is ready to get down...it is time for another bottle.  Or time for a diaper change.  Or time to just sit and play.  Or it is time for a nap and she wants to be rocked to sleep.  I just can't begin to tell you how amazing it is that Trish has time to do anything.

A few minutes ago I had to put her down to go to the bathroom.  It was the funniest thing.  Now that  she is mobile (or in other words crawling) she just followed me towards the bathroom crying.  It was not one of those real cries.  It was that pick me up/play with me cry.

Don't get me wrong, this is good stuff.  I'm loving being home from work.  This beats anything I can do at my job.  And I'm loving being able to spend time with Ava and girls.  I even love watching her crawl all over the place and try to stand up and walk around.  I even love the broccoli and carrots that have been drooled on my shirt.  But I am exhausted.  This has given me a totally new appreciation for the Super Woman living under my roof.  How she has managed to keep Ava all day is amazing.  Not to mention the fact that Ava is one of five very busy, very demanding young ladies.

And you and I thought our jobs were tough and demanding.  I had forgotten just how much it takes to be a full time mom.

Now, where is Super Woman - I need a nap!

Ava in one of today's moments.

Coming Soon....

Okay, so I haven't exactly been lighting it up on the regular blog posts.  It seems these days that I can barely get enough time to think let alone actually write about something.  Well, maybe that isn't totally true.  I did have at least three hours free last night.  Unfortunately I chose to fall asleep watching the movie "The Body Guard".

 It has been a tough couple of weeks.  I've had a really interesting schedule at work.  We have been working on another release and it is really a bigger challenge than we initially thought.  I also have school starting back again. I was hoping to take two courses this semester, but I settled for only one.  I think that has turned out to be a good choice.  With all that is and isn't going on I'm not sure I would have the mental strength or the physical time to work on two classes.  Hopefully next semester I can afford (mentally, physically, financially, and emotionally) to take a couple of classes.  Hopefully!

Anyway, since I haven't blogged in a while I figured I better put down a few thoughts.  Here are some ideas for a few upcoming posts

1. Letting Go
2. Ground hog's day
3. An excerpt from a draft

It may be a couple of weeks before I get to these three, so stay tuned.

How is this helping?

On Sunday I had a break through moment like never before.  It was one of those moments you see in other people of faith but never quite see in yourself.  It was the kind of thing you pray for over and over but never actually see it working out for you.  Yet, this time it did.

For whatever reason, I know the reason, I was in a mood on Sunday morning.  It wasn't my best mood either.  My feelings had been hurt, feathers ruffled and rights and denied.  I tried praying and letting it go, but it seemed I had Velcro hands all morning.  As I left the house to go to church I began to moan about how things were going.  I was actually complaining to God.  It was loud and in hindsight childish and embarrassing.  But he listened.  He listened to me go on about hurt feelings, rights that were denied, how could this happen again, why this and why that.  And then he asked, "how is this helping?"

What, I said, what did you say?.  He said again, "how is this helping?"  This was the kind of revelation you pray for but are never ready to actually hear the answer.  God asked, how was all of my griping and complaining helping the situation, helping me, helping the ones who hurt me or helping my family.  I was speechless.  I realized the truth of it all was that all of my bickering was not going to help anyone.  It was especially not going to help me.  Over the next few minutes God continued to work me over in answer to my prayer.

He went on and challenged me by asking, "what are you going to do?"  It wasn't the kind of question we ask ourselves when we want a way out.  This was the question of, what are you going to do: keep complaining or make a positive change.  In my truck on I-26 I remembered the Son (and the sun shine) and I resolved to drop my end of the rope, quit complaining about what had taken place and forgive.

So next time someone violates me, I hope I will remember to forgive first.  But if not, if I start complaining again I hope God will break in on my pity party and ask - "How is this helping?"

More than a meal - it was memories

On Thursday nights my wife and I put on a restaurant of sorts in our dining room.  The name of the restaurant is called 'Happenings'!

I chose the name and it stands for the place where good things are happening; where love is happening; where kindness and appreciation is happening; where young ladies are made to feel special is happening; and where fathers are behaving like fathers is happening.

On Thursday we bring out the good dishes and the silver ware.  We set up nice napkins, most of the time, and have the girls seated at the table.  After everyone is seated we have "Happenings'.  I serve them as both their cook and waiter.  The food is never the main dish, the real main dish is the memories.

Well, this week, 1/19/2011, we had one of the best 'Happenings' in months.  The girls all sat at the table and we had homemade subs, wedges, corn and something sweet to drink.  As they ate Sydney suggested a round of complimenting each other.  For the next twenty minutes the compliments and praise were flowing.  "I like the way you dance", said one.  "I like the way you do our hair", said another.  "I like it when we play together", said one of the younger girls.  The sound of the girls laughing, praising each other and most importantly not arguing was great.  It was wonderful to hear.

After the compliments stopped flowing, the jokes started.  The girls laughed about trips to Disney, times at real restaurants where 3 yr old Sydney made us nearly fall out in laughter.  They reminisced on summers spent in Georgetown, and our recent trip to Alabama.  They laughed about granddaddy falling asleep watching TV and waking up as soon as they changed the channel.  We talked about the many funny things we have done and how many funny stories we can each tell about the other.  Like the trip to the aquarium where Sydney played with a penguin and Paige played with a cookie.  We looked through our mental scrapbooks of the trip to the beach and Grandma's birthday party.  Trish and I laughed and nearly cried thinking about college, our early years of marriage and when the girls were very young.  Even little Ms. Ava tried to get in on the jokes and stories.

You know, this was more than a meal.  It was more than a dinner.  It was truly 'Happenings', a place where memories, laughter and joy are always happening!  I love the moments where you realize that it is all worth it.  I pray that I can hang on to this moment.

Moments Like This

My multi-talented and beautiful wife, Trish is so good at capturing moments with the girls and memories with our family.  She captures some photographs that just burst from the pages with detail, excitement or mystery.  So many times I look at the things she captures from behind the lens and they seem to tell stories that go well beyond just the surface.  She has uploaded some of these moments to her blog truegifts.blogspot.com, but this one that I just had to take from her photo library. 

I will never know what Paige was thinking, but when I look at it I see the simplicity of being a child, the beauty in God's creation, and the power of light (don't you see how the light just draws you in to the photo).  It also makes me think and reflect upon God; how blessed we are to be his children, how awesome life with him was, is and will be and how powerful God's light is in our lives.

This photo makes me think about being a parent; the awesome and the overwhelming, the girls and their little personalities and how much they are growing up.  It also makes me wonder, "What is she thinking?"  Knowing Paige, there is no telling what she was thinking.

I need to remind myself to live for moments like these - a simple gift of time, life and triumph.

Another sunrise

Since my wife started taking photographs of things she has taught me to look at things a bit differently.  She talks about seeing photo opportunities in the smallest thing; a bumblebee a flower stem, or a single leave with all of its God given detail.

Lately, I have seen exactly what she was talking about.  For the past few weeks I have been getting to work early enough to see the sun rising over the city.  I should be carrying my camera to work everyday so that I can capture a piece of it, but I always seem to forget.  Anyway, when you cross over the Lake Murray Dam, the site to the right where the sun comes up over the city is just breath taking.

The colors that God uses to paint the morning sky are simply amazing.  I wish I could do it justice, but you have to take my word for it.  It was the perfect blend of light and dark, shades of red and bouquets of orange, blends of smoke and charcoal gray, and the perfect drops of sunlight.  The city sky line seemed to be sketched out in beautiful blues that blended in to the morning sky.  Not to mention that the entire city line appeared like the backdrop of painting.

Can anyone match the creativity and beauty of God?  Can anyone match his brilliance?

Don't believe me, take a moment to cross the dam early in the morning between 7:00 and 7:45 and you will see a sunrise like never before.

I will not be defeated

Well, I promised myself that I would blog more often and write in a journal almost everyday.  So much for that goal and promise.  It seems that the calendar has reminded me that it has been over 13 days since my last post and the journal tells me that I have only cracked its pages a few times more since New Year's Eve.

It seems to be so easy to get caught up in doing life, instead of purposefully living life.  I know there are many days where I arrive home at the end of the day, worn, frustrated and tired to the bone.  The last thing I want to do is pick up the pen and pad and write about my day or talk about the good or the bad parts of it.  And, after working on a computer all day long I can barely convince myself to open the laptop bag, let alone actually boot it up.

But recently I was reminded in another post that we have to find out what we stand for and make that our priority.  I want to stand for purpose driven living, making memories, leaving a godly legacy and loving my wife.  I want to stand for living a life of health, strength, love and compassion.

So, I want let myself be discouraged by a few days of writers block.  No!  I will not!  I will make time to write once a week and actually put it on my calendar.  I will continue to pray for God to give me moments to share and ways to share them.  And, I will not be defeated.  I know that I am living a life of triumph -