2009 blog archive
Check out my 12 favorite entries from my first attempt at blogging in 2009. The blog was called “something to think about” and I managed to keep it up for almost 5 months. I hope you enjoy it!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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something to think about.
OK, here we go!
I have been perusing the blogging world for quite a while now. There are a few regular feeds that I hit consistently, and then some others that I check up on now and again. It took me a while to realize what it is about blogs that attract me to them like a moth to a flame. But I’ve figured it out!
Every time I read a blog, my day is affected by it. Whether in the short term or long term I continue to think about what I have read. Sometimes my perspective on a situation will be changed, other times I will find myself laughing out loud for reasons I cannot fully explain. Either way I find that the course I was heading on has been shifted, simply because I had the opportunity to peek into someone else’s brain.
So this is my thank you. To those who have inspired me, made me laugh, given me perspective, or challenged me. I hope that my simple musings will return the favor, or at least pass on the love to others who stumble across this page. My goal is simply to give you something to think about.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
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joy in the pain.
Over a period of eight days, I will have experienced a wedding, a funeral, and a first birthday.
The wedding was for a staff member and friend, and as I witnessed the ceremony I watched him barely contain the excitement on his face to finally be married. The funeral will be for another staff member who has suddenly passed, leaving his wife and two young sons. Death, whether unexpected or not, is an emotional burden for the family, and I can already imagine their faces as they say goodbye. The birthday will be for my son, who will be a year old on Saturday. His first birthday will be bittersweet for Holly and I (I’m sure all birthdays will be) as we watch our baby continue to grow into a boy and all too soon a man.
This roller coaster of emotional events has hit me over a short period of time when I “happen” to be reading the book of James.
James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
When we experience rough times it is common to focus on the things that make us uncomfortable and make our lives more difficult. Be it the first fight as a married couple, living on without a family member, or watching your baby grow up, knowing that each day brings you closer to letting them go, it is in the difficult moments that I have seen two things happen. First, we discover who is most important. When we hit rock bottom we can truly see how important and influential the people who surround us are to our lives. Second, in every struggle we face we have the opportunity to become more like Jesus. I usually refer to Christians as “Christ-followers,” and it is in throws of trials that we can actually put feet to our faith and live out the label that we wear as Christians. Facing trials is all about developing perseverance and becoming more like Christ. The more trials we face, the more we grow!
When I reach for joy in the midst of pain, it gives me something to think about…
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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quicksand.
I mess up. A lot. It’s not like my life is a constant train of failure, but I am no stranger to the “uh-oh” moment.
You see, when I mess up, it’s almost never a one-time occurance. My one mistake will lead to a second, third, or twelfth disaster. I’ve heard it described as quicksand (bees, coach…”Replacements” anyone?). The idea is that one failure leads to the next until you are surrounded by them and each move sinks you deeper into your mess.
Tonight I made a mistake. Not a huge one. Nothing to really write home about. But it bugged me so bad that it was all I thought about all night. For the past 5 hours I have relived it in my head and thought of dozens of things I would do differently if only I had the chance. As I was kicking myself for my stupidity, I realized something. The only person that was kicking me….was me!
I have been reading a lot lately out of the book of James. He talks about how we should consider trials as joy (although they are not joyous occasions) because the testing of our faith develops perseverance. When I make a mistake, I so often will hinder my own ability to persevere and therefore become mature and complete, by camping out on my failure. Paul tells us that we should recognize that the price has been paid, our sins are forgiven, so MOVE ON! This might come easy in the grand scheme of salvation, but for my daily dysfunction I often find it difficult to put that into practice.
So I am done letting my single mistakes drive me into the quicksand of my own guilt and pity. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with all that free time! At least that’s something to think about…
Sunday, March 1, 2009
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change.
Sometimes the very thought of this word can paralyze us. I know there have been times where I have resisted change, but as I have been part of various changes in the past year, both personally and professionally, I have come to love it!
I am realizing that when change is opposed it is usually due to a lack of control on our part. I notice that I get the same feeling when change happens that I don’t choose that I get when change DOESN’T happen that I would prefer.
It all comes down to faith. Do I trust that the authorities in my life are doing what is right? Or do I think I know best? This is very convicting at times for me, especially when I ask those questions of God. Just something to think about…
Saturday, March 7, 2009
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this afternoon.
This afternoon I stopped to get gas and the lady in front of me, who was also getting gas, pulled out a pack of cigarettes and actually started smoking at the pump. I could hardly believe the stupidity it takes for someone to do that, and I was about to go say something to her, when all of a sudden her right arm caught on fire!
I was caught off guard by the instant flame that developed all the way from her hand to just below her shoulder. I felt for a moment as if I was frozen in time. I wasn’t really sure what to do next. Do I run to her and help? Do I get out of the way? Get some water? In that split second I noticed that a police car had just pulled in to the gas station. Immediately a wave of relief washed over me. In my mind I could see the situation resolving itself as the officer climbed out of his car. However, just as quickly as I found relief I stumbled into utter shock!
Instead of lending a helping hand, the cop pulled out his gun and shot the lady, who was screaming uncontrollably, three times in the torso. It all happened so fast that I couldn’t even react until the officer reached me to ask if I was OK. Still freaking out inside my head, I stared at him in disbelief and asked him what in the world just happened.
As matter-of-factly as possible the officer responded, “Well, sir, what did you want me to do? She was waving a firearm!”
if you liked this…you should hear the muffin joke…not really something you WANT to think about…. 
Sunday, March 8, 2009
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struck heel.
Genesis 3:15
“He will crush your head and you will strike his heel.”
In this verse we see God handing out the ultimate punishment for man’s sin: The North Carolina Tar HEELS are condemned to play the Duke Blue DEVILS for all of eternity.
You might notice that in this verse the offspring of Eve was punished by having their heel struck by the snake (satan). The correct interpretation of this passage (I’ve studied the Greek) shows that this is a foreshadowing prophecy of the relationship between UNC and Duke. As a result of man’s sin, Duke is required to continually attempt to strike the superior Heels. This is a cumbersome process. One that takes a huge toll on the players involved, and obviously attracts massive media attention.
The reason for this is that it is a snap shot of the ultimate competition between God and Satan. While Satan may strike temporarily, seemingly winning certain small battles, the final battle and all of the war will end in favor of our God.
The same is true of the annual battle for Tobacco Road. The good news is that when the Devils strike the Heels, the result is that their heads are CRUSHED! (yes, that includes certain large noses as well) – Let the record show that UNC leads Duke all time 129-97 in head-to-head matchups, 27-18 in ACC Reg. Season Championships, 17-16 in ACC Tournament Championships, and 4-3 in NCAA National Championships…
So, as we spend a few hours on a Sunday enjoying a guaranteed victory for the Heels, know that this is just a microcosm of the eternal narrative of God’s relationship with man.
Of course, since I have gone to the trouble to write all this down, UNC will probably lose.
Of course, I am required to occasionally be pessimistic about sports. After all, I’m a Cubs fan, too!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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gulf coast missions.
Day 1 of missions was a blur of sweat, laughter, service and solidarity. We saw students from different ministries come together to reach out to a community in need.
I have never been in an area that has been hit by a hurricane before. I imagined that as soon as a few months after a natural disaster everything would be back to normal, or very close. After a year and a half the San Leon area is still in desperate need of relief.
Relief is a great word to describe what we do with missions work. As we offer our services and begin moving in this town, the people we come into contact with are instantly relieved. After being let down by the government, their town, and even neighbors and friends, the sight
of a group of students spending spring break cleaning their yard and painting their home brings a wave of relief that is not easily matched.
I think the same is true of the effect of Jesus in our life. When you try a variety of outlets to satisfy and they continually leave you empty, finding the one thing, the solution, that truly fills you up is such a relief.
I hope that we can continue to show this community what that life change is all about through our actions and attitudes this week.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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gulf coast day 2.
Wow! Day 2 of Gulf Coast Missions was a blast! I have been blessed to be with 9th grade students who LOVE to serve and are doing some “and then some” work….the kind that requires a deep understanding of humilty and discipleship.
Humility.
These students really get that this trip is not about them. Our goal us to reach others in their point of need and be the active solution to their physical needs while mirroring that Jesus is the solution to our spiritual needs. Humilty is not about putting yourself down, but putting God and others up. They get that!
Discipleship.
These students really get that this trip is all about them. From the moment we left the Apex to the minute we return, they understand that by putting others first they can take the mindset if Jesus. By taking the mindset of Jesus they can become more like Him. In the Bible the
disciples were clueless to what Jesus was talking about until He left the work on their shoulders. Once they took the load and “did work” they began to grow leaps and bounds in their understanding of what Jesus had done. These students get that, and it is evident in everything they are doing. I can’t imagine being more proud!
Can I say the same thing about myself on any other Tuesday? Can you?
Something to think about….
Friday, April 3, 2009
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blank.
OK, I just wrote an entire blog.
Then I deleted it.
I think my life is often defined by the choices I make to either edit or not edit myself.
Not sure if this is one of those defining times, but it’s definitely making me think about other ones that might be!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
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what’s hot on tv.
My TV is so cool. I just noticed this week it has a new feature: “What’s Hot On FIOS” With this feature you can instantly see what shows are being watched by the most people right now. Then, to kick it up a notch, there is a second choice below that that tells you what shows are coming on next that are usually popular as well! How cool is that?
I think back to when I was in high school and I wish I had something like this then! Not just for my TV, though. I wish I could tell what clothes would be popular each day, or better yet, in the future so I could actually lead the trend. It would have been amazing to be able to tell what music, movies, slang, sports teams or cars to choose based on their popularity!
Throughout the maturing process (and even beyond it) there is a deep longing to feel loved (girls) and respected (guys). This often translates into looking into the wrong places for our identity. High School is all about identity! It is basically four years of identity crisis, in which you sometimes go to class and try to learn something, right?
I know I would have given anything to know what was going to be popular before I got to school each day in high school, but here’s the good news: when your identity is not tied to trend it won’t need to be replaced as often as your shoes or cell phone! As a Christ-follower, I know that no matter what I look like or how correctly I copy the most current culture I will always have a positive identity because of my relationship with Jesus. Because of that I know WHO I am and WHOSE I am!
So, bring on the next generation of iPods and Priuses! Technology and trends are a neat perk to being made in God’s creative image, but I know that regardless of where culture goes, I am made specifically in that image for a reason.
Now if I can just find something to watch on my cool TV…
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
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it’s been awhile.
Well, it’s been awhile since I last posted a blog. Going on 2 months, actually. A lot can happen in two months. You might get one or even two haircuts. You can lose touch with a close friend, or even lose that 10 pounds you always talk about in just 2 months!
For me, the last two months have been a blur. I posted my last blog right before leaving to visit family in North Carolina, and had every intention of writing at least one blog about my adventures there, followed by some updates of the family, including pictures, of course! But instead I have unintentionally stepped back from blogging. Time has a way of taking things from you, if you let it. A hairstyle becomes overgrown, friends become distant, or that dreaded 10 pounds becomes 20.
I have been watching a show lately called “Life After People.” They ‘document’ with computer effects what would happen to Earth if people just disappeared. Pretty intriguing stuff! The main thing I have
gleaned from it is this: No matter what we have done in the past, if we don’t keep living and keep interacting with each other and our surroundings, eventually even our most prized and fortified achievements will be nothing but a memory.
This blog became that for me after only two months. Without my efforts it nearly became a thing of the past. I wonder what else I am handing over to time for it to turn to ruin?
What about you?
Monday, June 22, 2009
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father’s day.
So. Yesterday was Father’s Day. Just a normal Sunday, right? Wrong!
This is the day where we honor and remember our fathers for all that they have done for us.
As our family enjoyed a wonderful Father’s Day pizza at the incomperable CPK, Holly asked me a question that made me pause. She asked me, “Do you think that Father’s Day is more about honoring fathers, or setting an example for children to recognize what they do?”
At first I thought, both, of course! But after 24 hours I feel that I have to say the latter is most important. As a father I now realize that any honor given to me pales in comparison to the honor it will be to see my son grow into a mature Christ-follower who recognizes that his relationship with me is just a shadow of the relationship he should have with God.
As I came home tonight, late of course (it is camp season!), I checked in on my son and realized something. It hit me that being a Father is less about my relationship with Colt and more about gaining a deeper understanding of how and why God loves me.
I just hope that I can communicate those feelings to my son so that he can understand how important it is that every day he honors his true Father.
Something to think about. I know I will.
