insufficient gratitude

I was 17 years old sitting on the edge of my bed when I witnessed war for the first time. It was the opening air strike in the Gulf War. I was shocked. I was amazed. I was terrified. My country was at war. I see it as one of those things as if you aren't directly involved you can't fully grasp the magnitude. Both of my grandfathers were war vets and I have listened over the years to their limited story telling doing my best to imagine what it was really like.

I remember the excitement of leaving home. Sure I'll miss everyone but I'm off to college. The world was mine for the taking. But not even for one second do I try to make the comparison of going off to college to the likes of going off to war. Unless some freak tragic accident I could come home whenever I got ready. Unlike the many who have served our country who were never guaranteed any return home... ever. I can only imagine the emotion of leaving home for potentially the final time. I can not imagine losing friends, forever.

There are several things that I have always envied of men who have served in the military. I have a limited understanding of honor for one. But to serve my country... no that's a flood of honor. I have always appreciated the sense of discipline our veterans seem to have. I have often wondered what kind of man I would be today had I served in the military. Those who have served walk differently. They have a swagger like none other. And talk about loyalty... they understand it.

As I reflect on this Veteran's Day I realize once again that I have a limited capacity to appreciate the numerous sacrifices made by men, women and families all across America. My best gratitude will always remain insufficient. To our Veteran's... hats off to you.

inspired...

I recently returned from a trip to the nations capital. While there I had the chance to visit the Smithsonian Museum. I actually went to the American History museum and was captivated by everything I saw. It is hard to imagine that some of the real items from history are there! I mean the actual coat worn by George Washington or Abe Lincoln... that's nuts! I saw Ali's boxing gloves, swag from many of the former President's and so much more...

As I walked around I could not help but feel overwhelmed. It was as if I was in the presence of excellence. I was in the hall of dreamers and visionaries. I have to admit I felt a sense of challenge as I read and looked at the artifacts that tell my nation's stories. The Civil War stuff struck me very closely. That was such an ugly time in history. Families hated one another and were often split. Rage and destruction ruled. But would we ever be where we are now as a nation if we had not previously gone there?

So many men. So many leaders. So many great accomplishments. What made them different? Did they have a greater ambition than I have? Were they smarter? Were they more wealthy? What separates the average man from the spectacular man? My answer is simple... bring your very best, every single day.

Was I inspired to make the most of my time on earth as I walked around DC? Most definitely yes.

3 drops of grape juice

mornings at our house are much like the final laps of a NASCAR race. everyone is rushing and running and doing their best to slide in the van just before the checkered flag drops. getting a kindergartner, a third grader, and a sixth grade teacher ready for the day and out the door at 6:45 is just short of insane. with the recent addition of late afternoon soccer practice followed by a late dinner, bath w/ hair washing & drying and a goal of bedtime by 8:30... forget about it.

even though i would not change one thing about my family (with the exception that in my perfect world school wouldn't start till about 9:15 or so) our mornings can be fairly crazy. and crazy is the word I choose if nothing goes wrong. add a little sleepy-headed 5 year old waking up on the wrong side of the bed and you might think the sky was falling. can't find soccer cleats, shoes are tied in knots, we just ran out of toothpaste, or 3 small drops of grape juice on the front of a fresh white nicely pressed shirt for mom and the world is rapidly coming to an end. well, just that very thing came to be at our house last week... not the end of the world part but the 3 drops of grape juice on mom's white shirt... just seconds before she was to crank Roxy (the name we have given our 2006 Toyota Sienna).

i witnessed it all first hand. the earth trembled slightly beneath my feet. sweat began to ooze from my brow. i could almost feel the tension. it was just short of actually painful. mom was steaming about those darn drops of untimely grape juice. and rightly so. i would have simply come un-glued. i would have snapped and thrown something. most of us would have done something stupid as we reacted and responded to one of life's little reminder moments.

i think those kinds of things don't just happen... i think they are allowed to happen. i really think GOD lets dumb stuff happen to us to see how we will respond. for us, the 3 drops of grape juice fouled our attitudes for the better part of the morning. everyone was late. the routine had been disrupted. but as i look at those silly moments, what's the big deal? it is grape juice. LORD, remind us all that the little moments that seem so HUGE are in all reality so very small. after all, how big can 3 drops of grape juice actually be?

alignment for assignment

A friend of mine shared a story with me a few weeks ago that I did not remember. This friend is beginning his fourth month of recovery and is living clean. He told me a story that took place about 15 years ago which I did not recall until he shared it with me. You see, he and I were at a party with other mutual friends when "the passing of the joint" took place. These were good guys, hanging out, not hurting anyone really... and as we sat around the joint came to me. Now I have had my share of "experimenting" but drugs never really appealed to me. I simply said, "No thanks, I'm good." I assume I didn't think anything else about it. But my friend obviously did. Just a few weeks ago he reminded me of that night. He said that memory of me had stuck with him over the years. I didn't make a big deal about it but simply passed.

Fast forward 15 years, I work in a drug recovery program and my friend is a resident in this particular program. Who knew that one day our paths would cross in this environment? In fact, 15 years ago I could not even imagined myself working in such a place. This past Sunday I listened as Pastor Larry Stockstill from Louisiana spoke about God's alignment for our assignment. He spoke of how so many things in our lives are simply aligning us for what God's ultimate will is for our lives. Maybe you have wondered like I have... why certain things happen to us in the way that they do. Maybe it is because somewhere down the line, He will use us in certain ways to help certain people simply because "we've been there". I know there have been trials in my own life and I have wondered, why in the world I am dealing with this. My own answer has been, well maybe God is allowing me to deal with this to minister to someone down the road. I don't know if that is going to be the case but it somehow gives me peace and meaning to the mess I often deal with.

I have to believe that the tests we all face are a part of the aligning process. Some of us have to be stressed and pulled to show our imperfections. Some are tested and tried to allow us to see where we need the most work. It is a character issue. I believe that God uses His all-knowing sense to direct us toward His perfect alignment. Once we find that alignment or as I call it, that divine "Sweet Spot" then we are able to achieve our assignment.

Don't grow weary if you are being tried. These tests breed perseverance and that leads to maturity and character. James chapter 1 says it this way... "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." At the time I had no idea that passing up a chance to get high would come back to be a badge of honor. Am I thankful that I passed? You betcha! My prayer: make me ever aware of Your alignment in my life.

sound investments in a troubled economy

What a year for the market. Many reports show that for the first time in decades our great land faces Depression-like levels of unemployment. When the bottom started to fall so many lost thousands and ten's of thousands and I only lost hundreds. I guess if you don't have much invested you really don't have much to lose. The problem with this is... you don't have much invested. I realize when I chose a career in the non-profit world that this term was literal. It is non-profit. The only ones making a killing in the non-profit world seem to turn out to be a little crooked. But don't cry for me, I chose this path. I made a conscious decision to follow in the footsteps of my father. I do find it neat that the last sentence applies to both my earthly father and my Heavenly Father.

I have close friends that financially are doing very well for themselves. I will admit that when I see them in their new car, new boats and having lots of big boy toys... I wonder why I can't afford stuff like that? Just this week I was reminded of why. Some choose to invest their money, time and talent in areas that reap them a sweet harvest. There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with this, just for the record. They make wise decisions and it pays nice dividends for them. I on the other hand (and many like me) have chosen to invest money, time and talent in other ways. DISCLAIMER: This is not a self indulgent thought or statement that is set to paint a picture of poor little old me, nor is it intended to make me appear as a financial martyr, greater in any sense or the appearance that I have it all figured out. The truth is, if I had lots of money I would probably be just as broke... I like to spend.

I have simply chosen to make my investments elsewhere. I have also made some very wise investment choices. I can think of a list of young people and even peers that I have purposefully invested my own life in. I give them my time, I give them my heart, I give them my soul. After all, that is all I have. Regardless of how the market is doing and regardless of the value of the almighty dollar... the most sound investment you can make in a troubled economy is when you invest you in someone else. Luke 12:34 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." I think we can flip that verse and make the same kind of sense. "For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also."

I challenge me and you... make wise investments. Invest in your marriage. Invest in your children. Invest in your walk with God. Invest in those around you. The payoff is eternal.

Illegalism in the 21st Century... post #100

It took me a year and a half but I finally broke the century mark. This is the 100th post for me!

There are few things in life that just burn my hide. People leaving their blinker on after they have changed lanes, getting a voicemail and people say their number so fast you can't figure it out, bad cell service... you know, the big things. Well, one of the quickest ways to fire me up is to show your legalism card. In my own words I define legalism like this: Legalism is living and abiding by a standard of rules and regulations that simply flat-out miss the bulls eye. I know it is really nothing new and we even read about it all throughout scriptures. From not eating certain foods to the way you comb your hair. I have first hand knowledge of legalism seeing as how I couldn't wear shorts until the 7th grade due to spiritual reasons. Jewelry, make-up, long hair-short hair... where does it stop? I know peoples intentions are sometimes good as they abide by these "doctrines" simply because they want to be closer to God, but to think that I am going to hell because I play cards is nothing short of absurd.

Now where I really have issues is when someone who lives by these standards responds toward me with this "your not living right" attitude. Fires me up! To think that there are churches that get bent out of shape because members leave and go somewhere else and then they themselves "talk about it" to no end... ridiculous. It may be a surprise to some but some of the worst treatment many receive are from other "believers". Makes me sick at my stomach. To say they follow Christ is a pure lie. They follow rules. Well, heck... even animals can follow rules. I have coined a term to describe the whole entire mess... Illegalism. Because it should be.

Whatever happened to love thy neighbor as thyself? That was pretty good teaching. For those who are entangled by the nasty web of legalism, my heart hurts for you just shortly after my blood pressure rises. Get over it and move on. Our lives are too short to not work it out together.

That's all I've got to say about that.

revival cancelled

A friend of mine recently saw a sign outside a local church that read "Revival Cancelled" and it began to stir my thoughts. Revival cancelled... really? Is that a status report for the good old US of A? Revival cancelled... can you do that? Revival cancelled... what if it really is? What would life be like if God removed His hand from our existence? What would that be like? First of all it would bring utter chaos but beyond that how would it feel? If we all woke up tomorrow and the hope that so many of us rely on was over night simply removed or cancelled... what would we do?

I have read many reports or studies that keep a pulse on the church in America and from I have read maybe in some places revival has been cancelled. Reports show that there are churches closing the doors for good in almost every city, town and neighborhood across our country. For numerous reasons they are just calling it quits. Maybe some of them need to close. They haven't seen a convert in over a decade. They haven't baptized anyone in recent history. They are more of a drain on the community than there are anything else. Maybe they should close down. Maybe revival has been cancelled. However, be not dismayed... there are some great, vibrant, healthy churches out there as well. I know first hand revival has not been cancelled. I see each week people from all walks of life being revived, brought back to life, new life!

But I ask myself this question... what if as of this moment on God never answered another prayer of mine. What would I do? I would hope and like to think that I would continue living my life and playing on His team but I can only imagine how discouraging that would be. If He never answered another prayer, I would still have my lifetime of personal miracles and do-overs to thank Him for. I would guess that I could take one day at a time and thank Him each of those days for just one answered prayer and never run out of days. I would like to think if He stopped responding to my petitions it wouldn't make a difference and I would carry on. But how many of my prayers are prayed out of sincere love for Him and mankind and how many are prayed because I need something? How many prayers are prayed because I am just flat out desperate for Him to move on my behalf? If He never answers another prayer... I still have a huge pile of things to be thankful for.

Revival cancelled? Not at my house... what about yours?

Saying revival cancelled is like saying Freedom Revoked... you don't have the authority.