Aren't we Blessed?

Tom didn't have an easy life. His parents had drinking problems, and sometimes beat him and his little brother. His brother ran from the family at every chance, spending most of his time with friends and even some strangers. Tom tried to help his parents when he could, and tried to do what he was supposed to. A neighbor invited him to church at 7, and Tom learned about a God who could help him through the pain of his family. When he was 12, his dad was arrested and spent the next 6 years in prison. The family's financial condition got worse, and his mother more difficult.
But Tom's Sunday School teacher told him something that encouraged his natural optimism. She was crippled, with difficult arthritis since early adulthood. But she started every class helping the class to see how blessed they were. That resonated with Tom, who began every greeting with "Hi! Aren't we blessed?" His faith, attitude and hard work helped him in school, in the first of many after-school jobs, and with others.
When we met, he was in his 30s. He had a beautiful wife, a good job and two wonderful kids. He was blessed. He didn't count that his wife had been in a terrible fire and wasn't the beauty that God had created her to be. He didn't count one child with Down's syndrome and a work environment where he was challenged each year to do more. He counted his blessings- and he was blessed.
As we start a new year, I echo Tom's words. "Aren't we Blessed?"

War & Football- Instruction for Life

I grew up with three men in my family who had fought honorably in war (my father & brothers-in-law), and in a state where football had become somewhat of a reaction to losing a war 80 years before and resulting poverty, social upheaval and a bad national reputation (Alabama- Roll Tide!). So I learned was that life has analogies- and sports or war teach about life.
Lessons from that: Love your team, hate the enemy (not really in sport- some get that wrong). We prepare harder and do our best and we don't have to worry about others. You don't choose who or where you play or fight, you just strap it on and go do it. Life is a team game- the guy next to you depends on you and you on him. Don't let your team down. Fighting with honor isn't easy, but living without it is worse. I am here because of the sacrifice of others for us- I must make sacrifices for those after me. Fighting with honor is hard, and may kill you- but living without honor is worse.
Love God and your team, and be willing to die for both at any time- then you will learn what life really is.

The Power of the Pause

Although slightly interrupted by some work, most of us are in the midst of the holiday lull. Except for those places where unplanned emergencies (my other job) or organizational anxiety (my wife's work) require extra effort, a good portion of the nation slows down during these two weeks at the end of the year.
And it's amazing what happens. Life really does seem better for most. Most families really do enjoy being together. People do the things- work, rest, play, service, celebration- that they would do if they could do whatever they wanted. People reconnect- again, mostly in good ways- and renew.
We can live in Kairos- right time- until we feel the returning pressure next week of Chronos- measured time.
I'm deciding not to overachieve next year. No radical plans  goals or programs. Just living, loving and discipling- to enjoy each day as if it were the only one. I want to be the child of God, husband, father, friend and pastor that I would if I had all the time in the world. That won't prevent there from being Chronos pressure- but it might make all year feel more like Christmas- and isn't that our goal, anyway? Take time to be who God calls you to be- instead of pushing for more quicker faster. Enjoy the power of the pause!

Headed into 2013 - again

I have many blessings and gifts in my life- but persistence and discipline haven't been chief among them. At this time of the year I, like many of you, find it easier to find places I've dropped the ball than places I've made the 100 yard crawl from "Facing the Giants." I have a journal that goes back to many bad and good things- but lots of restarts. Even since I've been using a computer, the days starting over are more than the days finishing.
Two good things-
1- God's grace is better than my failure. God's love really is more powerful than my past. I am thankful- and forgiven.
2- Holiness is, in the end, allowing God's power to change my habits of addiction, failure and weakness into the character of Christ. So eventually, I have to do the disciplined work to allow God's grace to overcome the hurts, habits procrastination and laziness that I allow to keep me from who God calls me to be.
So here we are- you and I, with the Lord watching. Are you ready to start now and make 2013 the year of the Lord's grace overcoming your past & present? May God bless and strengthen us!

Are you ready for Christmas?

(THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008)

I am asked that at least every other day this month. This morning, while Jaysha cleaned my teeth, I found my answer.

Yes, I am ready for Christmas. No, I haven’t done all my shopping. No, I won’t be out looking for gifts at the last minute. Yes, I will have a Merry Christmas!
Can you say that? I think there are four parts to being ready for Christmas:
1. Say yes to Jesus- without the Savior, there is no Christmas. And let’s face it, you’ve been doing great running your life, right?
2. Say no to Madison Avenue. You DO NOT need to buy things people don’t need to say you gave them a gift.
3. Say Yes to relationships. Your family wants you, not stuff, unless you’ve totally corrupted them. And you can fix that still! You do not need to spend money on your children for them to know love. You do not need to send or give things to avoid guilt or make up for a lack of relationship- just fix the relationship! Why don’t you give time this year- time, activities, doing things for people. Stuff is SO OVERRATED!
4. Say yes to celebration and thanksgiving (there’s a reason it comes before the party season!). See or hear the Messiah. Go to a Christmas play. Sing Carols at a nursing home. Call your family. Celebrate the life given by Christ, not the sack of presents falsely promised by the world!
4a. Why don’t you take part of what you’re not spending on stupid gifts and give food, shelter, clothing or water to the needy? See me for details- you could change the world while letting God cure you of materialism!
Are you ready for Christmas?

There It Was There it was

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008

It just stared at me. I used it, I went by and over it, I ignored it. But I had made a choice, so I had to face it- my floor.

I have made two decisions in these days with people important to me. I am giving up chocolate- which, more than any other food, has controlled me, as I support friends who are breaking habits with God’s help. The second is to exercise and lose weight, as I support my son in growing strong in Christ.
But both of these decisions are made not just in public, but in private. No one but God and I actually know if I exercise or avoid all chocolate. So I have to, daily, commit to making those choices part of who I am and what I do. So I face the floor, and my exercise, each day.
And every day I choose right instead of easy strengthens me, and every day I choose ease or comfort instead of strength weakens me. I am a disciple, and the choice I made makes the choices I make each day which make me the man God wants me to be. No one but we and God know if we are living the life all the time. But the choice we made makes the decisions we make and those decisions make the person we will be.
May God bless you with light, strength and power to let the choice you made in Christ make you through the Christ-like choice you make today.

Mom's Birthday (2008)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2008

Today is a special day for me- my Mother’s birthday. Dad taught me to have courage, and to give respect and love to others, and to have honor. Mom showed me a life hidden in Christ, and taught me to love God passionately and to do the common everyday things I need to do each day. Gone for 8 and 10 years, I still miss them every week, if not every day. Love your friends and family, care for those God puts in your path, and rejoice that you have been given this day with them!