August 15th, 2010
They, the county or the city, have put a “no turn on red” sign at a red light that I face every weekday. If my timing is bad, and it generally is, then the light turns red when I am about 100 yards from it. That forces me to stay on red for the duration of traffic going the other way. At one time, and for many years I might add, there wasn’t a sign there and so one could creep out looking left and turn right. Who knows what happened? Maybe there have been some wrecks or close calls. All I know is that now I have to sit and wait or…be a law breaker.
In good conscience it is hard and uncomfortable to be a law breaker even if it used to be legal to turn right. I look over my shoulder again and again thinking no one would know. Sometimes someone pulls up behind me and is more impatient than I or has a weaker conscience. They proceed to honk and make gestures…
The other morning I was there, at the wrong time, and began to sit through the light. Out of nowhere I sensed, ”Be still and know that I am God.” In typical impatience I may have been missing other times like that so I really stopped. I stopped my murmuring about an inconvenient sign, about some other stress in life and stopped about my plans for the day. My sitting there became more purposeful that day and now I don’t mind that inconvenience so much. There may be more to some other inconveniences in life. Now,that inconvenient sign became a marker and reminder of other things that may cause me to slow down and sense, “What is God doing? and What could He be doing in these circumstances?”
Tags: inconveniences, life, stress
Posted in God, application, change, christianity, conscience, life, pet peeve, purpose | No Comments »
July 15th, 2010
I was looking at all of the chips on my kitchen table at lunch today and realized we don’t have plain chips too often. And, if we do they tend to hang around the pantry a long time. We have or have had multi-grain cheddar, nacho, fiery habanero, salt and vinegar, BBQ, honey mustard, limon chile, cool ranch, sour cream and onion, and on and on. If we do have plain, regular or original in the house it usually is getting dipped in salsa or smothered with cheese…
What does that say about life? We like a little spice? We’ve grown accustomed to variety and flavor? Other areas of our life may tend towards a daily grind but I hope we can see the purpose and mission to it all.
I know this that God is new every morning and the life that awaits is abundant. Spicy, sour or plain it is blessed.
Posted in God, application, christianity, life, purpose | No Comments »
June 23rd, 2010
it’s true, coffee is good for you! i knew it all along. here’s a link to a new study, http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/coffeesmysteriousbenefitsmount
now i just hope they don’t do other studies to prove that coffee hurts you…
Posted in coffee | No Comments »
May 10th, 2010
We’ve just wrapped up a baseball season with our younger son. His team has been one of those that 10 year old teams that just manages to get through an inning, much less a game. However, you can’t replace the smile when they do something right. As parents/adults you just assume the basic tasks of catching, throwing and hitting are easy. I’m not sure how many times I held my breath as a ball was hit our son’s direction or as the pitcher released the ball…
There were a couple of first timers to the game of baseball on our team and I’ll won’t forget the smile after one of their first hits. All season long we’ve painfully watched him step out of the batters box as the pitch was released only to see it cross right over the plate. Other times there were wild swings with amazingly awkward mechanics. However, there was a game when he stepped up to the plate and swung and actually connected! the ball rolled right past the defenders and 2 runners scored. The smile as he paused on 1st base was priceless, ear to ear.
Posted in fun, kids | No Comments »
March 25th, 2010
One of our great church members sent a link around several months ago for a way to read the Bible on your mobile. I am not usually an early adopter so I put off downloading it. Plus, I’m not always so technically minded it took me awhile to figure out how to actually get it to my blackberry. However, after a couple of clicks an icon appeared and I actually had the Bible on my blackberry.
Next came the tough part…putting down brickbreaker during any “free” time. There were a couple of times I looked a verse or two up at a red light. No, I didn’t try to drive and read! I also used my blackberry to look up several verses for a Life Group lesson and to have another translation. However, one of the coolest times I read the Bible was at the mall. If you haven’t read the Bible in a truly public setting you need to give it a go. That context really affects your senses and your heart and mind.
Here you go, www.youversion.com
Tags: Bible, technology
Posted in application, christianity | No Comments »
March 8th, 2010
I know wallpaper is a thing of the past for actual walls but the other day I was out and about and something caught my eye. While at a place of business I had a glance at a computer behind a desk and saw their wallpaper, on their computer screen. It was the stock photo of fall foliage of bright oranges of every hue. One of the reasons I noticed it was that it looked similar, no exactly like someone’s I know personally and I thought, “they don’t work here!”
Then it struck me that it was the sample that arrives with every computer, preloaded in memory. So, are you a personalized wallpaper guy or gal?
Which also makes me think about our lives…what do you do with all of the creativity you have? Does your uniqueness leak out in noticeable ways? What are the indelible marks you leave behind? God has created you uniquely you and you are uniquely responsible for what you do with you…
Tags: wallpaper
Posted in christianity, life, purpose, responsibility | No Comments »
February 11th, 2010
I just love seeing a burst of color from the few early season flowering trees, shrubs and bulbs. There are a couple of redbuds and plum/pear trees along my route to work. It sure is a great contrast to the dull, drab grays of the rain and skies. I’m sure there will be some crocus and daffodils and tulips out in flowerbeds, too. Can’t wait.
God’s creativity is amazing. The seasons and flora all have their unique purpose and beauty. Their Creator, Our Creator, is beyond wise.
Posted in God | No Comments »
January 27th, 2010
Waiting my turn in line at the grocery store I saw a teaser line on the front of a magazine, “Never Before Seen Photos…” Really?!? How did you take them, how many editors and publishers, printers, packers and deliverers… I guess we’re not that important if we aren’t counted. But then again we’re supposed to be influenced and swayed to buy their magazine based on that juicy front page phrase. What does that say about us?
Tags: photos
Posted in random | No Comments »
January 6th, 2010
the one(s) with the name “Jesus” in them.
There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12
Posted in Christmas, Jesus | No Comments »
December 23rd, 2009
Hark the Herald has this line near the beginning, “God and sinners reconciled.” God reconciling sinners is an incredible truth. God, who knew no sin, who is just made a way for sinners, who were enemies. Only a God powerful and loving could do that. What a great God we have who would make a way for us.
A verse or two later in the same carol we find, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel.” This is how God reconciled sinners. He came in the flesh. God incarnated. Unique to Christianity,this doctrine sets God apart and yet is so personal. He can relate to our lives, stress, disappointment, good times and bad. What a God!
Tags: christmas carol
Posted in Christmas, God, Jesus | No Comments »